Trotz expecting Islanders' best in must-win Game 6
New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz is anticipating a significant bounce-back effort from his club versus the Tampa Bay Lightning in Wednesday's Game 6.
"You'll get our best. Whatever we got left, you're going to get our best," Trotz said, per Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.
The Lightning handed the Islanders their worst playoff defeat in franchise history in Game 5 - an emphatic 8-0 drubbing to push New York's back against the wall.
"Hopefully it's only a 24-hour thing and just like a 24-hour flu we can get over it and move on," Trotz said.
Despite coming off a discouraging loss, the underdog Islanders have played the defending champions nearly even in several metrics to this point in the series.
Five-on-five stats through five games
| Islanders | Stat | Lightning |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Goals | 12 |
| 47.48% | Corsi-for | 52.52% |
| 47.03% | Shots-for | 52.97% |
| 51.13% | xGF | 48.87% |
| 45.59% | SCF | 53.41% |
Advanced stats courtesy: Natural Stat Trick
Trotz has faced this situation before. As the Washington Capitals coach in 2018, his club erased a 3-2 series deficit - against the Lightning - in the Eastern Conference Final and went on to capture the Stanley Cup.
The veteran bench boss plans to relay that message to his troops ahead of Game 6.
"How much do you want to commit to have one shot to go to the Stanley Cup Final? How much are you willing to commit? That’s really the message," Trotz said. "Go after it, guys, because you only get so many cracks at this."
The Islanders are 5-3 at Nassau Coliseum so far in the postseason. If they're able to win Wednesday, a decisive Game 7 would be held in Tampa on Friday.