Barry Trotz said he makes no excuses for his Islanders’ subpar performance this season, but at the same time he feels for his players — especially the veterans.
On Tuesday, he called it "a mentally crushing year so far," the latest example being Monday night’s 5-4 loss to the Avalanche, in which the Islanders gave up four third-period goals to fall behind, 5-1, before a failed late rally.
It was a tidy reflection of the season as a whole: The spirit was there, but the victory was not.
"The group is a proud group," the coach said after a rare practice in a stretch loaded with games.