PITTSBURGH — Most of the Islanders’ statistics have gone down under first-year head coach Barry Trotz, which hasn’t been a problem because of how much winning they’ve done. So much so, they are on the verge of sweeping the Penguins in their first-round series if they can pick up a win in Game 4 on Tuesday night.
But there was one player whose stat line has improved dramatically, and who was as happy as his stone-cold demeanor could convey that Trotz brought with him a defense-first attitude that took the team from worst in the league in goals-against to first.