Islanders’ Patrick Roy touched by Canadiens’ pregame gesture
MONTREAL — No one told Patrick Roy what would happen during Thursday's national anthem. So when the Canadians interjected a pregame rendition of “O Canada” with a slideshow of photos from Roy's playing days, Roy was as surprised as anyone. After spending the lead-up to Montreal's return insisting on focusing on the Islanders, the cheers […]
Pierre Engvall set to return to Islanders’ lineup after injury
MONTREAL — Pierre Engvall will return to the Islanders' lineup on Thursday for the first time in 10 days and for the first time under coach Patrick Roy. Roy confirmed that Engvall, who was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, will play against the Canadiens upon his return from an upper-body injury sustained in Minnesota […]
What Islanders’ Patrick Roy is saying about Montreal return
MONTREAL — Patrick Roy knows what awaits him at the Bell Center, so the Islanders were on the ice Wednesday to avoid being on the ice Thursday morning. In this city on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, hockey is as much a part of the lifeblood as the French language, and the new […]
Semyon Varlamov had ‘goose bumps’ when Islanders hired Patrick Roy
Semyon Varlamov is the only player on the Islanders' roster to have played for Patrick Roy. Suffice to say he is happy with the team's new head coach selection. “I'm not going to lie, I got goosebumps,” Varlamov said Tuesday before the Isles lost 3-2 to the Golden Knights in Roy's second game off the […]
Islanders’ schedule offers no favors to Patrick Roy’s start
The challenge ahead of Patrick Roy over the next week is almost entirely unique. Not only is Roy trying to change the very system and philosophy the Islanders play, he's doing so during a period in which the Islanders will continue to play every other day until the All-Star break begins on Sunday. That means […]
Islanders revert to inconsistent ways in loss to Golden Knights
The honeymoon period with a new coach lasts about as long as a team loses. So while Patrick Roy's honeymoon period ended, at least in that sense, on Tuesday night when the Islanders lost 3-2 to the Golden Knights, Roy's reception scheduled for Thursday in Montreal may signal a resurgence. unknown. In his two games […]
Islanders’ Patrick Roy embracing analytics in shift from Lane Lambert
Lane Lambert didn't care much for analytics while coaching the Islanders. That part of the organization's philosophy will change with Patrick Roy benched. Roy cited advanced statistics multiple times, especially when identifying areas the Islanders need to improve on, ahead of Sunday's first game against the Islanders, a 3-2 win over Dallas. “To a certain […]
Bo Horvat’s OT winner steals win for Patrick Roy in Islanders debut
Once upon a time, green was the wrong color to wear on St. Patrick's Day. With Patrick Roy's debut off the bench, the Islanders snapped a four-game losing streak in front of their home crowd, defeating the Stars 3-2 in overtime on Bo Horvat's game-winning goal. It was far from a perfect 60 minutes, and […]
Islanders players taking blame for Lane Lambert firing
The players in the Islanders' locker room stood behind Lane Lambert until the end, even though it became clear after a four-game winless streak last week that he might need a replacement. And while Lambert paid the price, the players are ultimately responsible for Lou Lamoriello's replacement behind the bench and the hiring of Patrick […]
Islanders’ Patrick Roy has personal ties to Mike Bossy
Patrick Roy waxed poetic about the Islanders' dynasty in his first press conference as the team's head coach, then revealed his personal connection the next day. Mike Bossy, a Montreal native, was Roy's neighbor when he played for the Canadiens, and one of his daughters babysat for the family. “One day I went to a […]