Funny enough, the most recent time Barry Trotz had been in the Coliseum for a playoff game it was in 2015, Game 6, in a series his Capitals would would in Game 7, seemingly putting Islanders hockey at this building to sleep for good.
Strange how things work out.
On Saturday night back on Hempstead Turnpike, with the Islanders having been welcomed back as a part-time tenant, Trotz coached the Islanders to a 5-1 win over the Sabres that clinched a playoff berth for his new team in a building that he has grown to love as his own.
“It’s got a great vibe, and I’m glad in the playoffs we’ll play games here,” Trotz said. “To me, it just feels right.”
Of course, the NHL made the decision that only the first round of the playoffs will be held at the Coliseum, and if the Islanders make it further, the home games will be at the sanitized Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The atmosphere couldn’t be any more different.
“I like the old-school buildings, I like the vibe,” Trotz said. “The great thing is the fans are on top of you. … I’m happy this building is back and running and back on the Island, where it should be, where the majority of the fanbase is. You see the passion.”
It was also clear to see Trotz squirming as the 13,917 chanted his name throughout the rout, with the humble head man wanting it deflected toward the players.
“It’s very nice, but they can cheer the players,” Trotz said. “They’re the ones that are playing, they’re the ones that are getting it done. They’re the ones blocking shots, making saves, scoring goals. I’m just the pretty face behind the bench.”
Trotz said all of this with a raspy voice, too, another indicator of the volume.
“When it’s that loud, I have to be louder,” Trotz said. “That was a good training session for the playoffs.”
Center Tanner Fritz missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury, but Trotz didn’t sound overly concerned about his long-term availability.
“He’s more in the hurt category,” Trotz said. “It’s been something that we’re just trying to get it figured out a little bit.”
Tom Kuhnhackl stayed in the lineup, on a third line with Anthony Beauvillier and Leo Komarov that combined for four points.
Trotz had an on-ice conversation Saturday morning with defenseman Thomas Hickey, who was a healthy scratch for the fifth straight game after he had played well in the previous six. Odds are Hickey will get back in at some point over the final three games.