DALLAS

The Islanders were shaken up following a hit by Mikko Rantanen that seemed to severely injure Alexander Romanov. This incident occurred just 27.3 seconds before the end of their 3-2 victory against the Stars on Tuesday night. Manager Patrick Roy criticized Rantanen’s actions as “disrespectful to the players.”

Rantanen forcefully pushed Romanov into the glass while both raced toward the boards. Romanov’s head struck the boards, and he collapsed on the ice, requiring assistance to leave. A spokesperson for the Islanders later indicated that Romanov did not need to be taken off-site for medical treatment, although no further updates were provided.

For his actions, Rantanen received a five-minute major penalty for boarding and a ten-minute match misconduct. Roy even had a few words with Rantanen as they both exited toward the tunnel.

“I truly hope he’s doing okay right now,” Roy commented, expressing uncertainty over Romanov’s condition. “It’s clear when you see the numbers that you need to avoid that kind of hit. We all know that.” He also expressed pride in how his players reacted, emphasizing that no one was happy about such a serious injury, calling it disrespectful to their team.

Meanwhile, Stars coach Glenn Gulutzan defended Rantanen, suggesting the hit was a result of Romanov losing balance after being clipped by an opposing player’s skate. “I’ve watched Lantz play for over ten years, and this kind of thing happens in hockey,” he noted, also wishing Romanov well.

This isn’t characteristic of Rantanen’s style, according to Roy, who coached him when he was drafted by the Avalanche. “That shouldn’t be part of our game,” Roy added.

Despite the emotional rollercoaster of the game that ended the Stars’ five-game winning streak and brought the Islanders’ record to 5-1-0 on the road, the mood in the locker room was heavy. Jean-Gabriel Pageau reflected on the situation, sharing that when a teammate gets hurt, they become a priority over the game’s outcome. “Of course we’re happy with the two points, but we were all concerned first about Romy,” he said.

Romanov had already been sidelined for five games earlier this season with an upper-body injury, leading the Islanders to bring in Marshall Warren as a temporary replacement. It seems likely that Warren may rejoin the team for Thursday’s game against Detroit.

Even with standout performances from goalie Ilya Sorokin, David Rittich took the starting position and made 22 saves on 24 shots. Roy mentioned they’re focusing on keeping both goalies fresh rather than solely relying on Sorokin.

Additionally, Simon Holmstrom was absent due to illness, and Maxim Tsyplakov stepped in to fill his spot in the lineup.