Barry Trotz's message to Islanders: Pick yourself up, support each other

Sure, there are adjustments to be made, offensive and defensive X’s-and-O’s that need work. But it’s the emotional side of the game that also needs improvement for the Islanders to snap their three-game losing streak.

That’s what coach Barry Trotz tried to reinforce during Friday’s practice in Philadelphia. That’s what was emphasized in a team meeting, with several players taking the floor.

The Islanders will face the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday and Sunday nights looking to salvage some points out of this five-game road trip.

"I think it’s just to bring joy back in our game, something I think we’ve all lost a little bit," center Jean-Gabriel Pageau said. "Get that confidence back up. Get that joy back. Hockey is our passion and we know how close we were last year and how tight the standings are. We’re not far away. We’re still in the mix, so I think we’ve just got to stay motivated for the next two games."

It’s the first of eight meetings between the teams after the Islanders eliminated the Flyers in a seven-game second-round series in the Toronto bubble. The Flyers rallied to tie the series with an overtime win in Game 5 and a double-overtime win in Game 6.

"You’re going to see exactly what you saw in the bubble," Trotz said. "Very good hockey team. Very deep. Good special teams."

After the Islanders blew a three-goal first-period lead by allowing five second-period goals Thursday night, Trotz described the 6-3 loss to the Capitals as a "punch to the mouth, an uppercut to the jaw."

That loss followed Tuesday’s disappointment as defenseman Justin Schultz scored with 26.4 seconds left in regulation to lift the Capitals to a 3-2 win.

So the Islanders find themselves one point ahead of the last-place Rangers in the eight-team East Division and seven points behind the first-place Capitals.

"We went through the last couple of games, some things that can zap you mentally," Trotz said. "For me, it’s getting our minds back. Let’s understand not everything is going to be easy. Not everything is going to go your way. Sometimes life kicks you right in the gut and you’ve got to get up.

"Let’s not feel sorry for ourselves, let’s pick ourselves up, let’s pick each other up, more importantly. Keep looking forward. Stay in the fight here and take care of each other."

Notes & quotes: All of the Islanders practiced on Friday, including defenseman Ryan Pulock, who was in discomfort toward the end of Thursday’s loss after tripping Tom Wilson . . . Even though Ilya Sorokin was moved to the taxi squad on Thursday to create a roster spot for Oliver Wahlstrom, leaving Cory Schneider to back up Semyon Varlamov, Trotz reinforced that the highly touted Russian rookie remains the Islanders’ second goalie. "The intention when we were putting our goaltending department together was Ilya would get some of these back-to-backs," he said. "I would think Ilya is a good bet to probably see one of these games."

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

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.