COLUMBUS, Ohio — No NHL coach has ever beaten the Sidney Crosby-led Penguins on three consecutive tries in the playoffs.
Several years ago, few would have guessed Barry Trotz ever would be in position to do it.
Even before leading the Capitals to a 2018 Stanley Cup, Trotz was a well-respected coach whose teams were often strong in the regular season and hard to play against no matter what the month. But his tight-checking, heavy-hitting clubs kept losing in the postseason to more offensively skilled opponents — the Red Wings, Sharks, Blackhawks and Penguins.
The Penguins’ fans delighted in beating Trotz and Alex Ovechkin in two long and combative series en route to back-to-back Cups in 2016-17. Trotz’s defensive system, it appeared, could not shut down supremely talented teams over the course of seven games in April and May.
But the longtime coach broke through in 2018, and has been a nemesis to the Eastern Conference ever since. He swept the Penguins out of the opening round in his first season with the Islanders and last year took New York to the conference finals.
Now, Trotz and the Isles are giving the Penguins fits again in an opening-round series knotted at 2-2 heading into Monday night’s Game 5 at PPG Paints Arena. They are doing it in typical Trotz fashion — making the Penguins fight for every inch of space on the ice and targeting their best players for punishment.
I picked the Penguins in six games, and stand by that prediction. The only reason I had the Isles winning two games in the series is because of the man behind the bench. Trotz always gets buy-in from his players and the best out of his teams.
There’s no question the Penguins have superior talent, but his system finds ways to frustrate opponents’ top players. Pittsburgh’s first line has done little in this series. Crosby and Bryan Rust have one goal each. Jake Guentzel has a secondary assist and has been on the receiving end of numerous big hits. If not for Jeff Carter, Kris Letang and the Penguins’ fourth line, the club could be down 3-1 in the series.
Better than most coaches, Trotz understands the game is officiated differently in the playoffs. Referees allow for a bit more interference and after-the-whistle chicanery. They don’t want to be the ones deciding games. More than anything, Trotz finds players who fit perfectly into his system. Jean-Gabriel Pageau is a great example. So is the shutdown pair of Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock.
When the Isles lost Anders Lee at midseason to a knee injury, most figured his team was in deep trouble. Yet here they are coming off their best game of series, jumping out to a 2-0 second-period lead on Saturday afternoon and choking the life out of the Penguins for a 4-1 win. Trotz and general manager Lou Lamoriello have joined forces like Lex Luthor and Bizarro to create mayhem for skillful and law-abiding opponents.
Think the Capitals regret not paying Trotz what he’s worth following the 2018 Cup? They have been ousted in the first round three consecutive years.
If Trotz finds a way to win two more games this week, he will add another title to his resume — the Penguins’ Whisperer in the Crosby era. The future Hall-of-Fame center has two goals and two assists in his last 10 games against Trotz-coached opponents.
It would surprise no one to see Crosby deliver a vintage performance Monday night. He’s more than capable and, truth be told, its his wingers, Guentzel and Rust, who have struggled in this series.
But that’s what Trotz can do. His system specializes in eliminating many of the opponent’s best options. Alain Vigneault is the only other coach with consecutive playoff series wins over Crosby with the Rangers in 2014-15, but that foe was built on speed and great goaltending.
These Islanders are all about tenacity and checking, and just when you think you have them figured out, a Brock Nelson or Josh Bailey scores a beauty.
Look for the Penguins to be at their best Monday night because if they aren’t, the Lex Luthor of coaching might find a way to steal another round.
YOUR TURN: Has any opposing coach given the Crosby-era Penguins more trouble? Bonus trivia: Name the only two coaches to beat the Penguins three consecutive times — not necessarily in successive years — in their playoff history.