The Islanders are expecting a better playoff run after they were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round last season. The Islanders missed the postseason in 2018 under Coach Doug Weight and in 2017 under Weight and Jack Capuano. But Trotz rejected the idea that he had an advantage over Reirden because he was coaching against his former team. “They’ve made some changes in some of the things they do, just as we’ve done with the Islanders,” Trotz said. During postgame interviews, Reirden described Lee’s hit as “predatory.”This rivalry has intensified since the teams’ 2015 first-round series, which Washington won in seven games.

Source: New York Times August 21, 2020 02:39 UTC