Islanders: Insane Record In Back To Backs Under Barry Trotz

If it were up to me, the fine people building UBS Arena would be working on a statue of Barry Trotz as we speak to go up in front of the Islanders‘ new home. Since coming over from the Capitals, Trotz has breathed new life into this organization.

The Islanders have the fifth-best record in terms of points percentage since the start of the 2018-2019 season. Of the four teams ahead of the Islanders, all four have played in a Stanley Cup in the last three years and three have won it.

In addition to the improved culture, the steady performance, and finely tuned defensive play the Islanders have an insane record in back-to-backs under Barry Trotz.

The Islanders insane record in back-to-backs

In 26 games, the Islanders have a 21-2-3 record in the second half of back-to-backs for a near-perfect .923 points percentage. That’s downright unbelievable stuff from the Islanders. It’s hard to win in those games at this level, so what does it show?

Well for starters, good goalie play. In back-to-backs, it’s rare that you have the same goalie play both games. The Islanders have had superb goalie play since the start of 2018.

Robin Lehner and Thomas Greiss combined for a Jennings Trophy in 2019, with Lehner finishing with a .930 save percentage and a 2.13 goals against average and Thomas Greiss with a .927 save percentage and a 2.28 goals against average.

The next year, Greiss had a .913 save percentage and a 2.74 goals against average while Semyon Varlamov had a .914 save percentage and a 2.62 goals against average. Finally, this year both Sorokin and Varlamov have been solid, with Varly holding a .926 save percentage and a 2.10 goals against with Sorokin having a .911 save percentage and a 2.14 goals against average.

On top of that, the Islanders’ structure is just so good that if they can manage to get to three goals, more often than not they are winning games. Most teams don’t have that kind of luxury but with the coaching, depth, and goalie play the Islanders have found this insane hit rate in these back-to-back contests.

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Barry Trotz is a wizard, and this is just yet another example of why he is already regarded as the second-best coach in team history.