Home-arena advantage traditionally has been less of a factor in the NHL than in its winter sports counterpart, the NBA. But throw in a relative lack of travel and a relative lack of on-site fans and, well, does it really matter at all this season?
For the Islanders, the answer seems to be an emphatic "yes!"
Entering Thursday night’s game against the Capitals at Nassau Coliseum, they were 19-2-2 at home — for a league-best 40 home-ice points — and were 10-11-2 on the road.
That’s just . . . weird.
Contrast that with the Capitals’ 14-6-2 at home and 15-7-2 on the road, a virtually even split.