NEW YORK - They play in a place where sports history means Pee Wee Reese and Duke Snider and the long-departed Dodgers, not Denis Potvin and Mike Bossy and the new-kids-on-the-block Islanders.
They play in a basketball arena where a small chunk of fans can’t see one of the nets. Their home is more like a home away from home, since most of their players live and practice 50 kilometres away from the Barclays Center.
Their No. 1 goalie, Jaroslav Halak, has not played since March 8 because of a groin injury. His replacement, Thomas Greiss, entered these playoffs with just 28 minutes of career post-season experience.