Washington Capitals face off against Barry Trotz’s Islanders

Tonight, the Washington Capitals will face off against former head coach Barry Trotz for the first time since winning the Stanley Cup.

On June 18,  after winning the first Stanley Cup for the Washington Capitals, Barry Trotz, the same coach who helped them win the Cup, signed a contract to become the next New York Islanders head coach.

The Capitals were not able to meet the salary expectations for the Stanley Cup winner Trotz, which held the door open for him to sign a new contract as a head coach for the Islanders. As a consequence of his departure, associate coach Lane Lambert and director of goaltending Mitch Korn left also the Capitals franchise to join his coaching staff.

Trotz joined the Islanders after four years coaching for the Capitals and a 205-89-34 record in 328 regular season games.

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“It is closure and a really good chapter in my life and the relationships,” Trotz said. “What we went through the last four years was pretty incredible in terms of the wins and losses, some of the hard times, some of the good times. We all shared that together. That’s why the bond will always be there forever with that group of young men.

“My whole deal right now is I’m trying to do the same thing with the young men on this side,” Trotz added. “It is closure. I’m a New York Islander. I’m not a Washington Capital.”

Odds in Capitals favor: Pros and Cons

Capitals pros:

• Currently hold the first position of the metropolitan division.
• Winning roll. Have won five back to back games.
• Tom Wilson is back and with a scoring streak.
• Braden Holtby: 2.86 GAA, 0913 SV%, 8 wins.

Capitals cons:

• Injuries: Oshie is still out following NHL’s concussion protocol and is expected to be out for at least an additional month. Kuznetsov is still out, but at least we can expect to see him sometime soon as he was seen skating with head coach Reirden after this morning practice skate in New York.
• The team is still adjusting to Todd Reirden as head coach.

Islanders pros:

• Currently hold the third position of the metropolitan division.
• Winning roll. Have won 2 back to back games.
• Thomas Greiss: 2.40 GAA, .928SV%, 8 wins.
• The Islanders are the only team with nine divisional wins this season.
• Matt Martin off IR.

Islanders cons:

• Adjusting to a new coaching staff.
• Injuries: Casey Cizikas’ first skate this morning with the team since suffering the injury on Nov. 13. He was just removed from the IR.