I was 3000 miles off on where the Isles-Ducks game was.
Could swear the schedule said @Ducks when I looked.
Anyway, the Isles beat them 3-0. Cal Clutterbuck with 2 goals in the first 10 minutes of the game. Uncle Leo with the other.
Lehner was awesome. He got knocked over a few times by Ducks players, but kept his composure and stopped all 19 shots thrown his way. Fun facts: The Isles have only allowed 3 goals during this 5 game winning streak. Cal Clutterbuck has 7 points (4G, 1A) during that streak! Isles have allowed 19 or fewer shots in 3 straight games, and you have to go back to the late 70s for the last time they did that.
Lehner was the 1st star of the game, and while he was interviewed on the ice the crowd was chanting his name. You could see the mutual appreciation on his face and I forget exactly what he said, but it was essentially how the fans are helping by getting behind the team and cheering/being positive.
During the game there were chants of "Barry Trotz" and "1st Place". Asked about the chants, Trotz said he asked Gomez "are they chanting Barry
sucks"?
But then he said he doesn't do anymore than the other coaches, that everyone is just as involved and as long as everyone is working as hard as the guy next to them, they'll be fine. Added "we're all Islanders". I'm coming out- I have a man crush on this no-necked motherfucker. For decades I've turned the game off after the final buzzer, not giving a shit what anyone has to say. If I happened to see interviews with Capuano or Weight (left the TV on while doing other shit and didn't stick around to see them lose), I generally mocked what they had to say. I stick around to see what Trotz has to say. The dude is that good. I wish he'd write a book. I'd read that shit every day.
The East is so frigging tight, any slips could cost a team big time. 4 points between the Isles (Metro 1) and the Pens in WC2. Divisional games are huge.
Isles are in Chicago Tuesday before the ASG. I feel like the break couldn't have come at a worse time for the Isles. I want to see them keep this streak rolling! That said, the players can probably use a break. But the fans can't.