Barry Trotz unhappy with Islanders' 3-on-3 play in overtime
Islanders head coach Barry Trotz watches during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Sunrise, Fla. The Panthers won 5-1. Credit: AP/Lynne Sladky
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Islanders have gotten the minimum two points out of their two overtime games and coach Barry Trotz is not pleased with their three-on-three play in the extra period.
"I thought our three-on-three wasn’t very good," Trotz said after a 3-2 shootout loss to the Predators on Saturday afternoon at Bridgestone Arena.
The Islanders were outshot, 3-1, in the overtime and all three shots against goalie Ilya Sorokin came from near the crease.
They also lost a 3-2 overtime game to the Blue Jackets on Oct. 21 as sharpshooter Patrik Laine got free in the right circle to rip a shot past Sorokin.
Part of the issue has been carrying the puck up ice and Trotz acknowledged the loss of slick-skating defensemen Devon Toews and Nick Leddy in successive offseasons because of salary-cap considerations is a factor.
"You look at our three-on-three the last couple of years, there is a Leddy and a Toews," Trotz said. "Just because they have the ability to get separation on those odd-man situations or those quick breaks or change of possessions. They can make a difference. We don’t really have lots of that."
Isles files
Zach Parise logged 14:19 without a shot after Trotz said he would be a game-time decision. Parise missed practice on Thursday because of back stiffness but he was able to practice on Friday…Zdeno Chara tied Larry Murphy for the third-most NHL regular-season games played by a defenseman at 1,615. He can pass both Scott Stevens (1,635) for second place and Chris Chelios (1,651) for the all-time lead this season…Chara was called for roughing Filip Forsberg in the first period and Matt Duchene in the third period…The Islanders won 25 of 56 faceoffs (45%)…Defenseman Ryan Pulock logged 25:08, a season-high for the Islanders…Defenseman Sebastian Aho, Ross Johnston and Kieffer Bellows remained healthy scratches.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
