Gary Bettman makes a major announcement for the future of the Islanders.

Fans of the New York Islanders are rejoicing today and for very good reason.

The Islanders fan base has been suffering for years due to their terrible arena situation and although we are still some time away from a long term solution to that problem, it sounds like the National Hockey League has been listening to the complaints of their fans and has stepped in to do the right thing for the upcoming 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. On Saturday NHL commissioner Gary Bettman made a major announcement in which he revealed that every Islanders home game throughout the entirety of the playoffs would be played at Nassau Coliseum, the Islanders former home prior to their move to the Barclays Center. 

Things only get better from there however. During his statement Bettman also revealed that the Nassau Coliseum will effectively once again become the home of the Islanders until they move in to Belmont Park Arena, meaning that all of their regular season games next year as well as all of their playoff games, should they advance to the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, will also be played at Nassau Coliseum.

Here is the statement from the NHL's commissioner unedited and in full:

"As the National Hockey League looks forward to the Islanders' move to Belmont Park Arena for the 2021 - 2022 NHL season, thanks to the State's investment and upgrades to the facility and the commitment of Islanders ownership, we have now determined that the best option during this period of transition is for the Club to play all of its regular-season home games next season and any home Stanley Cup Playoffs games this and next season at Nassau Coliseum at NYCB Live."

"We thank Barclays Center for playing host to the Islanders over the past five years and thank Islanders fans for their patience and loyalty while the League and the Club work together with the State of New York to build the new home this proud franchise needs and deserves."

There's no way to express the collective sigh of relief that the Islanders fan base is breathing today, the complaints about the view and the ice at Barclays Center were frequent. No doubt this will earn Bettman a ton of favor with the fans of that franchise in New York.