Islanders Beat Coyotes 5-1 LAS VEGAS -- This four-game western road trip has been a grind for the New York Islanders, who enter Saturday night looking to earn two points against the Vegas Golden Knights before returning home. This trip finale isn't just another game, as the spectacle that is T-Mobile Arena has the Islanders fueled and ready to roll. Islanders forward Bo Horvat [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/bo-horvat-new-york-islanders-10-game-point-streak-face-offs-exclusive] has played the Golden Knights more than anyone on the roster, all 16 matchups coming while a member of the Vancouver Canucks. "It's great. I mean, the atmosphere, the theatrics, I guess you could say, the music's always loud, and that's just the fun building to play in," Horvat told The Hockey News. "I've always enjoyed coming here. I can't wait to play tonight. While T-Mobile is always rocking, this game being a Saturday night showdown adds a little more flare, per Horvat. "Oh yeah. Everybody's gonna be coming tonight, and again, it's gonna be probably a packed house. They're defending Stanley Cup champs, so if you can't get up for this one, there's something wrong, and we got to be ready to go here." Horvat has 10 goals and four assists for 14 points in 16 games against Vegas. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzNDQ0NzYwNjE3MTY2NjQ0/usatsi_18033750.jpg] Islanders All-Star Mathew Barzal [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/mathew-barzal-new-york-islanders-all-star-game]thinks rather highly of T-Mobile Arena. "It's probably the best atmosphere in the league," Barzal told THN. "Coming in, it's one of my favorite games of the year. It's great energy. I think they do pretty well midweek, too, but yeah, I mean, Saturday night, it's gonna be absolutely rocking. I can't wait. It's gonna be a great game." Barzal has four goals and three assists for seven points in nine games against Vegas. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzNDQ0NzQyMzYzNTU1MTY0/usatsi_11882061.jpg] Brock Nelson [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/brock-nelson-new-york-islanders-stan-fischler-stefen-rosner] commends the Vegas organization for how they've been able to bring the aspects of Vegas to their game-day game plan. "It's a fun atmosphere, for sure. I think they've done a really good job. I think just embracing the hockey and the show and combining that into a pretty good product here. T Mobile's a great rink to play at, and the atmosphere is awesome. Their fans have been great right from day one. So yeah, I think it's probably one of the better places in terms of all collectively." Nelson has four goals and two assists for six points in 10 games against Vegas. While Islanders head coach Lane Lambert isn't in the stands or on the ice, he said he certainly feels the energy. "There's great energy in the building. Their fans are loud, and they certainly support them. So it's always a good atmosphere playing here." Noah Dobson [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/players/noah-dobson-new-york-islanders-11-points-11-games-defensive-play-1-on-1] remembered that the last two times the Islanders were in Vegas, it was a Saturday night affair. "We've been fortunately played here on a Saturday night, I think, the last two years too. So it's kind of a pinnacle for excitement and energy in the building. It makes it fun for the players, and it's always a fun game of the year." Dobson has one assist in four games against Vegas. ISLANDERS ON ENJOYING VEGAS While the Islanders aren't reenacting The Hangover while in Vegas, they enjoyed their time after practice on Friday. Noah Dobson: 'It's a unique experience you don't get anywhere else," Islanders defenseman. So, that stuff's all fun, especially through a long season, to have a day where you can enjoy yourself, have a good dinner, and walk around.it's great for the morale, and everyone seems to be full of energy today. " Mathew Barzal: "It's a cool city. So, it's fun to come in once a year and walk around, you know, like casinos and buildings; just the grandness of it all is just pretty cool. So yeah, it's one of my favorites to come into Brock Nelson: "I was just talking to one of the MSG guys. They went to the Sphere. It sounds like I probably should have done that. It sounds like it was pretty cool. But to just walk around and sightsee, especially in Vegas, I mean, you could do that for hours and probably never see the same thing. So many things to do, and when you get time with the guys to just go out and have fun, it's great." Bo Horvat: "It's always a fun place to come. Just to even walk around, do some sightseeing, and just take in the city, it's a pretty cool spot. It's always fun to come here as an away team, for sure." You can watch Rosner talk Islanders hockey on Hockey Night in New York [https://www.youtube.com/@hockeynightny] with co-host Sean Cuthbert [https://twitter.com/seanyhockey] live Sunday nights at 8 PM ET during the season at twitch.tv/hockeynightny [https://www.twitch.tv/hockeynightny].
