Nassau Coliseum was home to all during memorable run: ‘It was our dump’

It was goodbye on the greatest terms. It was a farewell filled with meaning and mystery, an exit infused with excitement. Every last drop was milked from the Old Barn, every emotion slapped around the rink and smashed into glass one last time. Nostalgia was credited with an assist.

The Islanders’ final exodus from Nassau Coliseum could have come during all those years when they ranked last in the NHL in attendance. It could have come with the dreaded move to Brooklyn. It could have come when the building was closed indefinitely last June or when the arena was limited to 10 percent COVID-related capacity this spring. But more than four hours before 13,000 or so fans filed in Wednesday for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup semifinals — the Islanders’ most important home game in 37 years — an enthusiastic car horn screamed, “Let’s go Islanders!” sparking a chain reaction in the parking lot. Various genres of music mingled. Flags proudly flew. Beer disappeared. Burgers flipped. Shirtless men stood beside freshly dry-cleaned jerseys. A roller hockey game took place beside a busted fence and overgrown weeds. Car trunks provided the best seats before the game began.