Internal competition for spots in the Islanders’ lineup – backside pressure as coach Barry Trotz calls it – has intensified with the team nearly returning to full health and, for the moment, not dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak.
"I think it’s a good problem to have," Josh Bailey said after Friday’s practice at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow as Trotz remained absent for a seventh day for family reasons. "We have a lot of talented guys in this room and the teams that win have that."
Case in point, Austin Czarnik.
The depth forward has played well in each of his eight NHL games this season, including the Islanders’ last two filling in as the third-line center.