With new ideas for on-ice tactics and a fresh perspective, Patrick Roy came in with a burst of energy when he was named the head coach of the New York Islanders.
But as the Islanders have lost four straight games in uninspiring fashion, the fiery enthusiasm that is Roy’s trademark has dwindled along with the team’s playoff chances.
Currently a point back of the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference, the Islanders have a less than 30% chance of making the playoffs, according to Moneypuck.com.
Roy has tried everything he can to improve those odds, deploying nearly every possible lineup combination imaginable, but to no avail. The Islanders earned just one point in their last four games and were outscored 16-5 in that stretch.
Now, Roy is running out of ideas to fix the Islanders’ issues and is even at a loss for words to explain them.
“I saw a team that played better than us today, Roy said on Sunday after the Islanders lost to the New York Rangers. “The Rangers, they managed the puck much better than what we did. They’re very fast in transition. I thought they had more energy than us for some reason.”
It’s a version of Roy that’s almost unrecognizable from the one that first arrived on Long Island just a short seven weeks ago. One that seems reluctant to admit there isn’t much more he can do to wake the Islanders up.
But don’t just take it from me. Take it from someone who has covered Roy since his days minding the net in Montreal.
“I was shocked watching the Islanders this weekend,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said Monday on the latest edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast.”You can see Roy blowing up at this. In big games, he was at his best. Part of what Roy is saying here is that he doesn’t understand how, in a big game like this, how his players couldn’t be at their best.”
It’s a question that has hung over the Islanders’ heads all year.
Yet, with only 15 games remaining on the schedule, the answer remains elusive.
“The crazy part is that we know what we can do when we’re on,” Bo Horvat said. “We’ve beaten some really good teams this year and played some really good hockey. Right now, we’re in a little bit of a lull that can’t happen. We got to figure it out here soon, or else we’re going to be in trouble going down the stretch.”
Missing the playoffs is only the first consequence of the Islanders failing to find a solution now.
The second and more impactful one will fall on the players who will have to find new jobs come the offseason.
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