Mathew Barzal is in the Islanders’ lineup for Wednesday night’s must-win Game 6 of their NHL semifinal series against the Lightning at Nassau Coliseum, $5,000 poorer but not suspended after letting his frustration take over in Monday night’s 8-0 loss at Amalie Arena.
Now, coach Barry Trotz wants to see what lesson his star center learned after receiving a five-minute cross-checking major and a game misconduct — plus NHL supplemental discipline — for his hit on Lightning defenseman Jan Rutta at the end of the second period in Game 5.
"I can’t tell you what he’s learned because I don’t know that yet," said Trotz, who expressed his "disappointment" in Barzal immediately after Game 5.