Elmont, New York | Patrick Roy was Patrick Roy Sunday night in his first game behind an NHL bench in just over seven years and nine months: intense, talkative and active. And it worked: The Islanders won 3-2 in overtime against the Dallas Stars. A look back at a colorful evening.
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Patrick Roy, Dobson, Barzal and Horvat Post-game media availability. 🎙
– New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 22, 2024
Roy's arrival was obviously the talk of the day at the UBS Arena in the New York suburb of Elmont.
A little over an hour before the game began, fans streamed in, excited and feverish at the prospect of discovering their favorite team's new coach.
“We have the man who revolutionized the goalkeeping position around the world! He has a good reputation and I think that's what the players need. I hope he kicks their ass and wakes them up!” Alan Byren, a longtime Islanders fan we met before the game, said of the hire. by Patrick Roy.
A few steps away, leaning against the bar, Dave Fernandez agreed.
“I have been a fan of the team since the beginning, since 1972. I hated it when we faced him when he played,” he tells us proudly as we approach him. Patrick brings experience and instant respect to the locker room. I think he will also bring discipline, an aspect that has been missing. I really liked what he said at the press conference about wanting to focus on the team's defensive play.
Dave Fernandez, a long-time Islanders fan.
A little further on, Fred Gutmann became a little more pessimistic.
“I read somewhere this morning that we were going to make the playoffs. I doubt! “These players need a kick in the butt,” he assured.
Intense and passionate
One thing is certain: Roy has not changed from the intense coach he was with the Remparts.
Apart from the fact that he found himself behind the bench of a team dressed in blue, white and orange (and that he no longer wore a beard), we saw the same passionate coach again.
And we noticed it during the morning training, which lasted 15 minutes at the most and where Roy led a few exercises with the enthusiasm that was in him. He didn't hesitate to repeatedly remind his players of basic concepts he wants to improve, in English… and in French for the few Quebecers on the team.
“We have to be good at that,” he said several times.
“His message is clear, it is black or white,” said Jean-Gabriel Pageau afterwards. There is no gray area. You can see that he is a guy who has a lot of passion and is intense. It can only help to bring a winner like him here.”
Calories burned
And we shouldn't think that that intensity would wane or that, now that Roy is in the NHL and managing millionaire professionals, he would be less active behind the bench.
It was necessary to compare Roy and his Dallas Stars counterpart, Peter DeBoer. On the one hand, the latter, who had his hands in his pockets the whole game (admittedly it was cold in the UBS Arena) and on the other hand, Roy, who was gesticulating and pacing back and forth on the bench, giving advice and encouragement for his players.
Getty Images via AFP
We confirm that Roy won according to the pedometer.
A colleague from Montreal, who hadn't seen the 58-year-old behind a bench since his time with the Avalanche, even told us: “He's the loudest guy in the arena!”
And he was hardly exaggerating.
The Islanders' official broadcaster, MSGSN, even pointed a camera at Roy on a few occasions, placing it in the corner of the screen during the game so fans wouldn't miss any of the Quebec pilot's intensity.
Close game
After scoring the first goal of the game, courtesy of former Canadian Alexander Romanov, the New York team was unable to maintain that lead against the increasingly tenacious Stars. Jason Robertson and Nils Lundkvist scored for the Stars in the second period, but Hudson Fasching tied the game in the third period before Bo Horvat scored in overtime.
Patrick Roy celebrated his comeback in the most beautiful way with his fist in the air.