Coach Roy Critiques Rantanen After Ejection in Islanders vs. Stars Game

New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy expressed strong criticism towards Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen following his ejection for a hit on Alex Romanov during Tuesday night’s match.

Rantanen, who leads the Stars with 27 points, was penalized for hitting Romanov from behind, causing the latter to hit the boards headfirst in the closing minutes of the game. This resulted in a five-minute major penalty for boarding and his subsequent ejection.

As Rantanen exited the ice, cameras caught Roy discussing the incident. He seemed determined not to let the situation fade away, hinting at the upcoming rematch in New York.

After the game, tensions eased, but Roy continued voicing his concerns regarding the incident. “I hope he’s okay. I’m not really sure what the situation is right now,” he commented, referring to Romanov. “When you see those numbers, you have to let him go. We all know that. It’s disrespectful to the players on our team when something like this happens.”

Romanov did not require hospitalization, but details about his condition remained unclear. The NHL’s Player Safety Office is set to closely review the incident, though reports suggest that Rantanen may not face further discipline.

Stars coach Glenn Gulutzan defended Rantanen, suggesting that he might have been inadvertently clipped by Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield, causing the collision with Romanov.

Gulutzan remarked, “This was just one of those hockey plays. I truly hope Romanov is alright. It’s a risky play for everyone involved.”

The match concluded dramatically, with Wyatt Johnston scoring a tying goal just before the final buzzer, only to have it negated due to goaltender interference, resulting in a 3-2 victory for the Islanders.