New York Post

Lamoriello a valuable resource

- By PETER BOTTE

Barry Trotz certainly knows what it takes to win the Stanley Cup, having coached the Capitals to their long-awaited first NHL title in 2018.

Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello also knows a thing or three about hoisting the Cup, and the Hall of Fame executive’s wealth of experience and history of success — three championsh­ips and five Finals appearance­s with the Devils — makes him an invaluable sounding board as the Islanders face a seventh game Saturday night after leading 3-1 in their second-round playoff series against the Flyers.

“Lou’s always there for a resource. He’s outstandin­g there,” Trotz said Friday. “He understand­s our games and in a lot of our meetings we ask for his input because of his years of knowledge and success in this game.

“You as a coach, or as an organizati­on, you want people … like we have people like [former Devils coach] Jacques Lemaire in our organizati­on as a great resource. Lou is a great resource. This game is hard enough that you need some people that have gone through it a little bit, 100 percent.”

Defenseman Andy Greene, who played for Lamoriello with the Devils, added: “He’s always around. I guess he doesn’t address us as a team, but as you’re walking by him and passing him in different areas, it’s just words of encouragem­ent.”

Trotz remained noncommitt­al regarding whether he will stick with goalie Semyon Varlamov or switch to Thomas Greiss for Game 7.

Scott Mayfield’s stick snapped just ahead of the Flyers’ double-OT winner by Ivan Provorov, and the Islanders defenseman got caught between getting off the ice and remaining in the defensive play without a stick as the Flyers gained the offensive zone.

“I think it’s easy to sit there or stand behind the bench or sit behind a computer or watching a TV screen and make a judgment what a player should do in the situation,” Trotz said.

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