DALLAS — Barry Trotz has, from time to time, been momentarily exasperated with some of the plays Johnny Boychuk will make in the earlier stages of a game. But the Islanders coach finds it a fair trade-off because of how much he trusts the defenseman with a game on the line.
“Sometimes Johnny will do somethings with the puck and I roll my eyes, ‘C’mon, Johnny, you’re better than that,’” Trotz said. “But when the game is on the line, you can’t find any one better at being all in, blocking shots, battling, fighting through things. He’s exceptional that way.