It didn’t take a mind reader for anyone to realize that this series against the Washington Capitals was going to take on a special meaning for New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz.
Trotz had coached in Washington for four years and led them to a Stanley Cup title in 2018. Just a few weeks after the parade through the United States capital, Trotz became head coach of the Islanders. So of course, just two years after that the Capitals would have to go through the Island to try and win another Stanley Cup.
I am, of course, paraphrasing the famous line that Trotz told the Capitals in the visitor’s dressing room at Barclays Center in November of 2018. Given the chance to back up Trotz’s words, the Islanders used the circumstance as extra juice for the series and knocked out the Capitals on Thursday night with a 4-0 win.
Three coaches walk into a locker room, all three walk out with #StanleyCup Rings. Thanks for everything Barry, Lane and Mitch. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/7X8j1EfzXz
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 26, 2018
“Obviously the familiarity and them winning a cup. Not just Barry, Lane (Lambert) and Mitch (Korn). I think that was motivation for us too. I think you’re obviously motivated to win the series, but you knew it would mean a lot to those guys. Happy to get it done.”
It has been the Barry Trotz system that has propelled the Islanders to the Second Round of the postseason for the second year in a row. The Islanders dominated at times a team that was favored to oust them. First, it was the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019. Then it was the Capitals this year.
It was a matchup often viewed as the student, in this case, Todd Reirden, against the Master, Barry Trotz. At this point, you know how this battle turned out.
“You can tell for sure (how special it is) and as players, we know the feeling too going up against an old team,” Adam Pelech said about Trotz. “That’s” a team he had a ton of success with and I think he was pretty excited about (the series win). We’re really glad we could help him do that.”
It was clear after the game just how much Trotz still felt about his time with the Capitals and the group of players that are still there from when he won a cup in 2018. Trotz spoke thoughtfully about his former team during his media session Thursday night.
Barry Trotz is ready to make new memories with the Islanders, but it’s apparent what the old ones with the Capitals mean to the veteran coach.
“I look on the other side and I see champions over there,” Trotz said. “Those guys are champions in my mind and they always will be. It was one of those series as a coach when you got through a series like that, where you’ve had some success with a group of guys it tears you a little bit. There are so many good memories, but at the same time you work for someone else and you want to beat that group.”
Trotz did that on Thursday night and fulfilled his promise he made to the Caps two years ago. They had to go through the Islanders, only the Islanders let them get by.
Still, it wasn’t totally easy for Trotz
“I was sort of, not in conflict, but maybe you were split sometimes. There’s so much history between two groups,” Trotz said.
