Why Islanders and Nets hosting big playoff games on same night is historically significant

Fans cheer in Game Three of the Semifinals of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the New York Islanders and the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nassau Coliseum on Thursday, June 17, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. Credit: Jim McIsaac

The Islanders played their biggest game at Nassau Coliseum since 1984 on Saturday night, which sounds like a big deal until you consider what was going on about 23 miles to the west.

That was where the Nets were hosting the Bucks in Game 7 of a second-round NBA playoff series, which only was the biggest sports event held in Brooklyn since Game 7 of the 1956 World Series.

So to review: One arena was hosting its most important hockey game since the first Reagan…