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Testing the place out? Islanders to play preseason game in Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Nets Basketball

Construction continues on the Barclays Center in the Brooklyn section of New York, on Wednesday, July 27, 2011. The New Jersey Nets are full speed ahead with their plans to move, preparing to have the new arena finished in time to host their first game of the 2012-13 season. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

AP

Remember when the Islanders were kicking around the idea of playing a preseason game in Brooklyn at the new Barclays Center?

That idea is actually going to happen as the Islanders announced that they will face the New Jersey Devils on October 2 at the new arena in Brooklyn. While the arena itself opens on September 28, the Islanders game will be the first hockey game to be played in what will be the new home of the New Jersey Nets.

The announcement of the Isles playing a game in Brooklyn also works as a way for Islanders owner Charles Wang to see how the place fits as a possible future home for the team. The Islanders’ troubles in getting a new arena in Uniondale and Hempstead on Long Island have made their future in the area an uncertain one and if things play out well, Wang could try to have the team move into the digs in Brooklyn.

The one catch with Barclays Center when it comes to hosting hockey, however, is that the arena seats just 14,500. With that as the maximum capacity, it would make it the smallest arena in the league, even smaller than Winnipeg’s MTS Centre.