Islanders RW Cal Clutterbuck after the team's game against the Coyotes on Friday called the ice surface at Barclays Center "unplayable" in the third period. Clutterbuck: "The ice was real bouncy ... so there wasn't much to do but throw it on net." He added, "From about the 5-6 minute mark of the second, you knew it was one of those nights. You basically couldn't string three passes together" (NEWSDAY, 10/22). A source said that the floor piping system at Barclays Center "does not meet NHL standard requirements for ice-making." Barclays "has PVC piping," while all other NHL rinks "have steel pipes." PVC "cannot maintain ideal temp of 21 degrees for NHL play" (TWITTER.com, 10/22).
The N.Y. Post's Larry Brooks notes Islanders co-Owner Jon Ledecky and the team's ownership group "have the obligation to seek an arena of their own" for the team. Sources said that Islanders ownership has "held meetings" with reps from real estate company Sterling Equities to "discuss constructing an arena on what would be the third base/left field area of the parking lot" (N.Y. POST, 10/23).
