It is a lineup decision that seemed to be situational.
Islanders coach Barry Trotz is likely to dress veteran winger Tom Kuhnhackl in Game 1 of the team’s first-round series against the Penguins on Wednesday night at the Coliseum, most notably because of Kuhnhackl’s ability to kill penalties. With the Islanders power play coming in as the second-worst among all the 16 playoff teams, Trotz knew he was going to need a big performance out of his penalty kill against the fifth-ranked Penguins’ man-advantage in order to have a chance to stay even in the special teams battle.
That’s why 22-year-old Michael Dal Colle is set to watch in street clothes, as he might be more of a natural fit for the top-six role, but lacks the shorthanded experience of Kuhnhackl.
“Penalty kill and experience is in Tommy’s favor, no question,” Trotz said Wednesday morning. “Probably a little bit of size and maybe a little offense goes to Dal Colle. There are different things that both those guys bring to the table.”
Kuhnhackl played 36 games for the Islanders this season, but he does have the experience of winning back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017. He played in five straight games to end the regular season. Dal Colle was called up for the third time this season in late March, and got into five straight before being scratched for the regular-season finale on Saturday in Washington.
“I think we weighed it out. It’s close,” Trotz said. “But I think we have a plan going into it a certain way and we have a pretty good option on the other side of it.”
Trotz isn’t trying to make too much of the advantage that might be provided by the Coliseum, which had most recently held a playoff game in 2015, when he was there behind the visiting Capitals’ bench.
“It’s the right feel and the right place and the right time,” he said. “Does it give you an advantage? If it gives you a one-percent advantage right through your lineup, that’s pretty good.”
Goalie Robin Lehner is in line to get the Game 1 start after he and Thomas Greiss had split the nets for most of the regular season. Trotz had made it pretty clear that he would not hesitate to use both goalies as the series went on.
Set to join Dal Colle as healthy scratches are defenseman Thomas Hickey, Luca Sbisa, and Dennis Seidenberg, along with pugilistic forward Ross Johnston.
