Last night on Hockey Night in New York, Patrick Roy's first week as the Isles head coach is in the books garnering a 1-2-1 record as we head into the All-Star break.
Sean and Stefen were joined by Peter Baugh of The Athletic to assess that first week, talk Zach Parise heading West to Colorado, and what may be ahead for the Islanders once they return from the time off!
Good Morning, Islanders Country.
May your hockey team play in interesting times.
It’s one eye on the present and one eye on the future as you’re watching these games unfold, simultaneously feeling optimistic about the changes Patrick Roy is ushering in, while realizing that time is not on the Islanders’ side with 30 games left to play this season because of their past (and current) problems.
The Isles are off to a 1-2-1 start under Roy and finished January with a 3-7-3 record; the second straight season the first month of the year has greatly hindered their playoff chances. The Isles are ninth in the conference, compared to 10th last year at the break, but three division teams behind them (NJ, PIT, and WSH) all have better points percentages than the Isles at the break.
Roy pointed out that his whirlwind of a first week behind the bench included games up a Stanley Cup contender in Dallas, the defending champion Golden Knights, and the Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers. The only non-playoff team was an anything-but-normal game vs. the Montreal Canadiens.
Given that stretch of opponents, it could have been worse, but we know it could’ve been better and really needs to be based on where they are in the standings as we hit the All-Star break.
Roy now famously said it was “playoff hockey” from here on out, but it already feels that the Islanders are in a 2-0 series deficit and need to win 4 of 5 to advance. That’s how small the margin of error will be.
We should know by the time they play their outdoor game vs. the New York Rangers (if not sooner) whether the remainder of this season will be about looking forward, about looking back or what’s directly in front of them.
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