Apr 22, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy talks to middle Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) and proper wing Cal Clutterbuck (15) in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes through the second interval in recreation two of the primary spherical of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Enviornment. Obligatory Credit score: James Guillory-Imagn Photos Patrick Roy is taken into account by many to be the perfect goaltender in NHL historical past and is revered in Colorado for backstopping two of the franchise’s three Stanley Cup titles.
However the final reminiscence he has with the group is not nice. Roy coached the Avalanche for 3 seasons earlier than abruptly resigning a month earlier than the beginning of coaching camp in 2016, citing an absence of continuity with the entrance workplace for stepping away.
He returns to Denver on Monday night time when he leads the New York Islanders in opposition to Colorado.
Roy took over the Avalanche earlier than the 2013-14 season and led them to a revival, from a staff that gained 16 video games in a lockout-shortened season a yr earlier than to 52 wins and a playoff look.
His Colorado groups did not attain the postseason the subsequent two seasons and Roy made his resolution to depart, which left his future as an NHL coach unsure.
New York gave him a second likelihood final yr after dismissing Lane Lambert midseason.
“I wasn’t positive if I used to be going to be again within the recreation,” Roy advised the New York Publish. “After I made my resolution to resign in Colorado, I sort of knew about that, that that could be a risk. However I suppose my ideas — I by no means thought it will be that lengthy.”
His Islanders have dropped their first two video games however earned some extent in an extra time loss to Utah on opening night time. They’re coming off a 3-0 loss Saturday on the Dallas Stars that started a three-game street journey.
New York faces a Colorado staff that would use a few of Roy’s expertise at goaltender. The Avalanche have allowed 14 objectives of their first two video games, together with two empty-netters, and are 0-2-0 to start out this season. Alexandar Georgiev has let in eight of these objectives in a shaky starting to the final yr of his contract.
Head coach Jared Bednar, who was employed proper after Roy resigned, has stated Georgiev is his No. 1 goaltender however acknowledges the tough begin.
“He is our starter. I’ve full religion that he has the flexibility, the expertise, the work ethic to bounce again and win us hockey video games,” Bednar stated of Georgiev. “It is a psychological recreation proper now. So, we’ll regroup, and we have now different areas of our recreation, too, that need to be higher.”
The Avalanche have proven loads of offense of their first two video games, scoring 4 objectives in every loss. Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar every have 4 factors to start the season, however MacKinnon’s frustration was obvious Saturday night time when he was assessed a recreation misconduct after an empty-net aim and smashed his stick earlier than leaving the ice.
“Recreation’s over, and he let it out,” Bednar stated.
Colorado is coping with some accidents early on. Jonathan Drouin, who performs left wing on the highest line, didn’t play Saturday and will not be within the lineup in opposition to the Islanders as a consequence of an upper-body harm. Miles Wooden and Devon Toews sat out Sunday’s observe however Bednar stated it was only a upkeep day for the 2.
–Area Degree Media
