Just play it out.
That’s what coach Barry Trotz wants to see as the Islanders conclude their disappointing season — their first out of the playoffs since 2018 — with back-to-back games at UBS Arena.
“Just play the right way,” Trotz said. “Play with the effort and commitment that’s professional, which has Islander standards. Don’t cheat each other.”
The Islanders certainly didn’t cheat in Thursday night’s 5-1 win over the Capitals to conclude a home-and-home series following Tuesday’s 4-1 win in Washington. Semyon Varlamov made 26 saves but Axel Jonsson-Fjallby spoiled his shutout bid with 41.4 seconds left in regulation.
This season, which started with Stanley Cup-or-bust aspirations after back-to-back trips to the NHL semifinals, ends on Friday night against the two-time Cup-champion Lightning.
Then comes an offseason in which president and general manager Lou Lamoriello will need to assess how to improve the returning core. He must also assess whether this season was an aberration resulting from COVID-19 outbreaks and scheduling headaches — either too few games in a stretch or way too many — or the inconsistent play is evidence the team is in a downturn.
But that’s not Trotz’s immediate concern.
“In the next 48 hours our season is done,” Trotz said before Thursday’s win. “Just do it the right way. Our fans have been fantastic. Don’t cheat anybody. Don’t cut any corners. We have lots of time to rest up and recover and recharge and all the other things that you need to do so we’ll be ready and hungry for next year.”
The Islanders (37-34-10) do still have some personal milestones within reach, and some already reached.
Brock Nelson gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal at 10:48 of the first period extending his career high to 37 goals with an outside chance of reaching 40.
Captain Anders Lee made it 2-0 on a four-on-three power play at 15:34 of the first period and now has 28 goals with a chance of reaching 30 for the third time in his career. It was his 212th career goal, placing him 10th on the Islanders’ all-time list.
Noah Dobson had assists on both of those power-play goals as he reached 50 points (13 goals, 37 assists). It’s the most points for an Islanders defenseman since Mark Streit had 56 in 2008-09 and the most for an Islanders defenseman 22-or-younger since Denis Potvin’s 54 in 1973-74.
Kyle Palmieri’s power-play goal to make it 4-0 at 6:23 of the third period was his 200th career goal.
Goalie Ilya Sorokin, expected to start against the Lightning, needs a shutout to set the team record with eight.
Not that Trotz is really paying attention to any of that.
“The No. 1 thing is we’re paid to win the hockey game, plain and simple,” Trotz said.
Friday also figures to be the last for Islanders defensemen Zdeno Chara, 45, and Andy Greene, 39, both who may retire.
Notes & quotes: Chara and Nelson returned after missing Tuesday’s win because of the non-COVID-19 illness going through the Islanders’ room. But defenseman Ryan Pulock missed Thursday’s game after being the latest to be infected with Robin Salo remaining in the lineup for a second straight game on emergency recall from the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport…Anthony Beauvillier returned after missing four games with an upper-body injury…Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Josh Bailey also scored for the Islanders…Defenseman Adam Pelech missed 10 minutes after Salo’s skate blade cut him above the left ankle 17 seconds into the second period and he had to be helped off the ice to the Islanders’ room…The Capitals played their second straight without Alex Ovechkin (upper body)…Capitals goalie Vitek Vanecek stopped 21 shots.
