Canadiens Defeat Islanders in Patrick Roy’s Return to Montreal

Patrick Roy‘s highly anticipated return to the Centre Bell ended in disappointment as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the New York Islanders 4-3 in an emotional night of hockey.

In a rare occurrence, there were more journalists surrounding the Islanders’ head coach than in Martin St-Louis‘ press conference. The attention was understandable, considering how often the opposing coach receives the first ovation of the night. As the crowd watched images of Roy’s triumphant moments with the Canadiens, including his iconic wink at Tomas Sandstrom and the retirement of his jersey, the former goalie expressed gratitude towards the organization and the fans.

Roy’s focus, however, was on coaching his team. He had requested that the attention be on the game itself, and his wish was granted during the Canadian national anthem. From there, he was able to fully concentrate on guiding his players.

Despite a rocky start for the Islanders, with the Canadiens taking a quick 3-0 lead in the first 12 minutes, Roy called a timeout and rallied his team to show resilience and character. The Islanders came close to forcing overtime, but ultimately fell short just 132 seconds away from at least earning a point.

Leading up to the game, Roy made some strategic changes in the team’s schedule. He opted for a solitary practice session in New York, avoiding a crowded locker room in Montreal the day before the match. This allowed him to face the media alone and maintain the team’s focus on the game.

Overall, Roy’s coaching efforts were praised by Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who highlighted his leadership and team-first mentality. It remains to be seen how the Islanders will adapt to the increased spotlight that comes with having a celebrity coach. With upcoming high-profile events like the outdoor game against the Rangers, all eyes will be on them and their coach’s every move.

Proper Nouns: Patrick Roy, Canadiens, Islanders, Centre Bell, Martin St-Louis, Doug Houda, John MacLean, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, CH, Lou Lamoriello, Insulaires, Lane Lambert, Rangers