April 20, 2016
Following an overtime victory against the Florida Panthers late Sunday night, New York Islanders winger Frans Nielsen told the press that the game's hero and deciding goalscorer, defenceman Thomas Hickey, needed a nickname. No official name has been decided on yet - early ideas range from Thomas Hockey to Super Mario after his game-winning celebration - but it was clear that a fan base eager for its first playoff series win since 1993 brought the noise to the Islanders' inaugural playoff game in Brooklyn.
And for those making the trip to Barclays Center for Game 3 Wednesday night, New York Islanders tickets on the secondary market are quickly falling in the hours leading up to puck drop. According to TicketIQ the average resale price for Game 4 Islanders vs Panthers tickets is now $169.29, marking a 29.8% drop from the game's peak average of $238.82 last Thursday. Hickey's goal to push the Islanders to a 2-1 series lead hasn't had a major effect on the resale market - tickets for Wednesday's game are down 21.7% from Sunday's average of $216.28.
If looking to just past the gates, the cheapest Game 4 ticket starts from $54. The least expensive non-obstructive seat are listed in Section 226 for $78 each. Though not the cheapest game remaining, it will be the cheapest game at Barclays Center through the remainder of the series. Should the series push to a Game 6 back in Brooklyn, the average price for Game 6 Islanders vs Panthers tickets is now $291.33, making it the most expensive game of the series. Tickets to Game 5 back in Sunrise, Florida currently own an average price of just $130.14 and the get-in price is $60.
The Islanders will look to take care of business before Game 6, however. The team is searching for its first consecutive playoff victories since the 2002 playoffs, a less-than-stellar record that embodies the franchise's hardship since the dynasty days of the 1980s. The Panthers have had similar struggles; they have failed to make it out of the first round in three playoff appearances dating back to 1997.
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