Barry Trotz hopes Wednesday night isn't the last time he will experience a packed Nassau Coliseum, as the Islanders are set to move to a brand new UBS Arena next season, but a must-win game six figures to be another memorable atmosphere that has blown the head coach away during this playoff run.
The atmosphere is something the former Stanley Cup champion considers unparalleled in all his years around the league.
"I didn't know much about the island other than the Marriott and the parking lot to the Coliseum over the years," Trotz said after New York's morning skate on Wednesday. "And I found out it's really a terrific community. Just the support in this area, it's nothing like anything I've ever experienced...just the passion of the fans and how loyal they are year in and year out, they're not fickle, or they're only with you when you win. They're with you all the time, and that's the really great thing."
When Trotz arrived on Long Island in 2018, he was inheriting a sub-.500 team still searching to recapture past glory of one of the NHL's greatest dynasties. Now, the arena is consistently packed as the franchise looks to stay alive in its second straight Eastern Conference Final, season tickets for next season are sold out, and fans have come with plenty of energy for the last hurrah of a historic arena looking to host one last Stanley Cup.
"We wanted to build a competitive team year in and year out," Trotz said. "We thought probably it would take some time. We're fortunate we have some people that bought in to our vision…and we've been competitive from day one. That's been a blessing. It's not a total surprise…our ownership is rock solid and behind everything we do from staffing to a player standpoint. I don't know if you're gonna be treated any better."
The treatment from the fans in Trotz's eyes have been just as accommodating, sometimes to the point of embarrassment, as the Nassau Coliseum crowd has cheered Trotz during the Islanders playoff run as one of the saviors of the franchise.
"I appreciate it," Trotz said. "It's sort of embarrassing for me. I'm always a team guy, so I want them to cheer, but cheer for the guys. I appreciate all our fans appreciating what we've been able to do, but it's the guys that get it done night in and night out. I'm humbled by it. I don't know if it's embarrassing. I'm humbled by it, that they appreciate me on the island, and I appreciate them."
This will be the last time Trotz and the Islanders raise their sticks to a Nassau Coliseum crowd if they are unable to bounce back from a blowout loss in game five. The Coliseum will be rocking on Wednesday night, for what they hope won't be the last time.
"Obviously tonight, I know they'll be with us, and we're gonna need them all," Trotz said. "We're gonna need everything that we have to give to beat this team."
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