RALEIGH, N.C. — Barry Trotz was asked on Wednesday morning whether his Islanders' lineup decisions for Game 3 against the Hurricanes at PNC Arena was based on choosing between Cal Clutterbuck, if healthy, and Tom Kuhnhackl for the fourth line or rookie Michael Dal Colle or Kuhnhackl for the second line.
“I look at it as Clutterbuck,” the coach said. “And then I make my decisions because we’ve got to make sure we’ve got our penalty kill, our power play and our five-on-five crews together.”
Turns out, Trotz did not alter his lineup as Clutterbuck was able to take his usual spot on the identity-setting fourth line after being helped off the ice late in the third period of the Islanders’ 2-1 loss in Sunday’s Game 2 at Barclays Center.