After saying Thursday he was considering wholesale changes to the Islanders' lineup, Barry Trotz wouldn't reveal his plans Friday hours before their do-or-die Game 4 in Raleigh.
Trotz said he wanted to keep the Hurricanes "on their toes" and didn't name a starting goaltender. Robin Lehner has started the Isles' first seven playoff games, but he worked in a timeshare with Thomas Greiss during the season.
It's no surprise Trotz didn't play his cards before he absolutely has to considering the Isles are down 3-0 in the series.
As far as the Islanders' mindset entering the game, the players are fully prepared for the situation, according to Trotz.
"Everything's been said. We've just got to do it," Trotz said. "Bottom line is from our standpoint, it's Game 7. It's a Game 7 mentality. We don't win this game, we go home and we're dead."
Only four teams in NHL history have come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series in 192 opportunities. The Islanders are one of those teams; in 1975 they won four straight against the Penguins in the quarterfinals after losing the first three games of the series.