Barry Trotz hinted at lineup changes for Tuesday night’s Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Lightning at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
The Islanders coach more than delivered, matching the Lightning’s strategy of dressing 11 forwards and seven defensemen for the first time in the postseason.
Defenseman Johnny Boychuk, who had not played since exiting Game 1 of the Islanders’ qualifying series against the Panthers with a head injury, was the added defenseman.
But Trotz also switched his lines, breaking up his struggling top line of Mathew Barzal with captain Anders Lee and Jordan Eberle.