Trotz’s team continues to flub man-advantage

In coach Barry Trotz’s mind, the Islanders’ success this season has not been based on rocket science.

“There’s not too many secrets to the formula,” he said. “I think our five-on-five, when we’re playing it the right way, teams don’t get a lot. If we can win the special teams event, then we’ll probably win.”

That formula played out Wednesday night like it has too often lately for the Islanders, who lost the special teams battle and the game, 3-2, to the Golden Knights at Barclays Center.

The Islanders gave up a power-play goal 34 seconds into play. Then they couldn’t convert on their only manadvantage of the night, extending their drought to just one power-play goal over their past 12 games, in which they have gone 1-for-28.

While their penalty kill has overall been serviceable, their power play has left them hanging. They are now 4-11-3 in games when they don’t score on the man-advantage and 10-1-1 in games in which they do. It hasn’t helped the offensive funk they have been in of late.

“We’ve got to get some more regular scoring throughout our lineup again,” Trotz said. “We got to get the power play to contribute on a more regular basis.”

Mathew Barzal was nearly the single-handed answer to those offensive woes, collecting a pair of assists and nearly adding a few more during 20:30 of ice time.

The reigning Calder Trophy winner is stuck on three goals for the season, but now has 22 assists and has Trotz liking his game.

“I think Mathew’s game has been building,” Trotz said. “The last three games, he’s been really solid. He’s been working on both ends. He’s been dangerous. He’s becoming more complete.”

Josh Ho-Sang’s season debut was put off another night as the polarizing winger was a healthy scratch for the second straight game since being summoned from AHL Bridgeport on Sunday.

Leo Komarov missed the team’s morning skate with what Trotz described as “stiffness” but the veteran remained in the lineup, relegating Ho-Sang to street clothes.

When and if Ho-Sang gets a chance to play his first NHL game since last Dec. 14, the 22-year-old said he won’t feel the need to make his case in his first stint under new management.

Jordan Eberle and Cal Clutterbuck left the third period of Monday night’s loss to the Penguins with injuries, but after taking Tuesday to recover, both said they were feeling fine and returned to the lineup.