After talking with the New Jersey Devils players following their win, here's what the Islanders can expect from the MetLife Stadium's on-ice conditions and atmosphere
After talking with the New Jersey Devils players following their win, here's what the Islanders can expect from the MetLife Stadium's on-ice conditions and atmosphere
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- The New York Islanders have waited four days to battle the cross-town rival New York Rangers at MetLife Stadium.
But the day has finally arrived for their 2024 Stadium Series game, coming less than 24 hours after the New Jersey Devils defeated the Philadelphia Flyer 6-3.
Over 70,000 people came out to enjoy the spectacle under the stars.
Following the win, The Hockey News went around asking members of the Devils what the atmosphere was like and the rink conditions.
"It was different. I was surprised by how many fans showed up," forward Ondrej Palat said. "They were so amazing."
All week long, teams were saying how good the ice was, and it sounded like it held up throughout the course of what was a chippy game.
"It was actually not too bad. It was more of the lighting," forward Erik Haula said. "It's a little bit different. It's dark on top, and then it's super bright. So it's a little bit different but not nothing crazy."
The Islanders won't have to deal with darkness on Sunday afternoon, but based on the weather forecast, the sun could certainly play a factor.
It was in the low 30s and high 20s for Saturday's game, but it wasn't unbearable,
"I think the temperature was probably perfect, really, to be honest," defenseman Brendan Smith said. "Sometimes, if it's too cold, it gets chippy, and obviously the opposite way, it gets puddly. It's all wet, and it's hard for the puck to slide, so I thought it was really good conditions."
Regarding the temperature, it won't be nearly as cold as it was when the Islanders battled the Rangers back in 2014 at Yankee Stadium, with the weather forecast saying it will be a nice 37 degrees at puck drop,
Whether it's freezing or not, there's no question Islanders and Rangers fans are going to have the parking lot bumping hours before the game.
While Ranger fans from the city may be the majority at the Stadium, Islanders fans are also going to be packing MetLife.
It will be a special moment for the Islanders' players when they look up and see a sea of blue and orange.
"We love playing in front of our fans and having so many showing up and supporting us definitely brought a huge energy boost," forward Timo Meier said. "The ice was actually really good. So, not a huge difference there."
Playing outside changes the sightlines a tad bit, given that there's much more happening past the boards. But Smith said that practice helped a lot with getting used to it.
"The sightlines weren't too bad. I mean, the practice obviously really helped us to get a feel for everything," Smith said.
But he said there was one element they had to battle a bit.
"There was a little bit of wind," Smith said. "There was a little bit of a swirl. So a couple high flips will take a little bounce. And the puck was bouncing a little bit in some areas, but for the most part, that was great ice."
The atmosphere, with more than 70,000 people watching the hockey game, was hard for the players to put into words.
Goaltender Nico Daws tried his best.
"At the end of the game, I kind of looked up and took a look around, and I was just blown away," Daws said. "It's a lot of people, obviously, I've never played in front of that many people, and just getting the win makes it more special."
"It was quick," Haula added. "But obviously, the build-up is great and winning, that's all that matters."
The Islanders have a handful of players who have played in outdoor games before.
Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas, Cal Clutterbuck, and Brock Nelson all played in 2014, while Jean-Gabriel Pageau (Ottawa), Kyle Palmieri (Anaheim), Semyon Varlamov (Colorado), and Pierre Engvall (Toronto) have outdoor game experience.
For everyone else, this is a brand new ball game and it will be an experience they never forget. There's also a major need for two points, and getting off to a strong start like New Jersey did, scoring 32 seconds into the game, will be the key to the win against a fast and talented Rangers team.