The NHL has "dispatched its noted ice guru to assist the Islanders with what has become another troublesome issue in their first season at Barclays Center" after several players "publicly complained about the ice conditions following recent games," according to Peter Botte of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. NHL Senior Dir of Facilities Operations Dan Craig and other league technicians have "visited the first-year NHL arena multiple times in the past week." Islanders RW Kyle Okposo "termed the ice conditions 'awful' after one game last week and added 'that can't happen' once the playoffs start, assuming the Islanders qualify over their final five games." Islanders coach Jack Capuano and D Johnny Boychuk also have "questioned the first-year ice surface" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/4). Islanders players after Thursday's game against the Blue Jackets said that the ice "was sluggish, especially late in the game." In N.Y., Allan Kreda noted unseasonably warm temperatures that day "might have contributed to the problem, though similar complaints were heard early in the season at Barclays, which was not originally designed to accommodate a hockey rink." Islanders D Thomas Hickey: "The ice was horrendous. It was pathetic, worse than it was last game. It must be tougher with weather getting better outside." He added, "It hurts the product, and that’s not right." Boychuk said that the "substandard playing surface had often forced alterations in the team's style." He said, "The ice is soft, the puck jumps everywhere and there are ruts. You have to change the way you play" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/2).
