(Video) Patrick Roy left DUMBFOUNDED after bizarre empty-net decision backfires against Maple Leafs
Patrick Roy's move to pull out his goaltender during a face off in their zone in the final minute heavily backfired against him and his team.
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Patrick Roy (Image via X/Yardbarker)
On the occasion of the New Year’s Eve, the Toronto Maple Leafs went face-to-face against the New York Islanders. In the dying moments of the game, Islanders coach Patrick Roy made a strange decision by pulling off his goalie during a face-off in his zone. He was later left dumbfounded as his tactic backfired.
The Islanders found themselves trailing 2-1 in the final minute of the game. With less than a minute to go, a face off took place in the Islanders zone. To get back on level terms and force the game into overtime, Roy pulled off his goalie and added another player in his place.
The Islanders were unable to move the puck forward into the opposition half as Roy would have intended. After an intense face off, they lost the control of the puck.
The Maple Leafs did not let this opportunity slip by. They took possession of the puck. William Nylander who pass up it to John Tavares, who slotted it home past the diving Islanders player to make the score 3-1 in their favor and end the year with another win.
Check out the video regarding this incident and Roy’s reaction below:
Patrick Roy pulled the goalie with the draw IN THEIR OWN ZONE, his face when Tavares scores says it all ? pic.twitter.com/XLUsaPdhTt
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) December 31, 2024
Speaking after the game, Roy said that if they won the face off, they could have taken the puck to the opposition zone and create some offense.
If they win the draw, we don’t touch the puck game over. If we win the draw, we could ice it, and then we could play 5-on-5 in their zone. So I had, what, 42 seconds left in the game, 38, 48 seconds left in the game, that’s the best chance to create some offense…because it was a penalty we could ice the puck and try to get some possession offensively.
Patrick Roy said in the post game conference as per NHL.com
Unsurprisingly, this decision has left many connected with the NHL stunned. The NHL Hall of Famer has raised several eyebrows with this move.
Coach Craig Berube comments on Patrick Roy’s eye-catching decision in Maple Leafs-Islanders game
Patrick Roy’s decision to remove his goaltender, Ilya Sorokin in the dying minutes while trailing during a face off in their zone did not work out as he anticipated. This strategy of him seems to have even left opposition coach Craig Berube stunned.
Speaking after the game, Berube expressed that he did not expect Roy to pull out the goaltender in such a situation. He though would take this and claimed that it was big goal for his team.
I didn’t think they’d pull their goalie. I thought that if they won the draw, rip it down, and they’re coming on the goalie was coming just to prepare guys to, you know, be ready and what’s going on. Obviously a big goal for us.
Craig Berube said in the post-match conference
I've had one NHL GM tell me it's a fireable offense
— Jimmy Murphy (@MurphysLaw74) December 31, 2024
This is now the Islanders’ third defeat in their last four games. With this loss, they overall record took another hit and now stands at 14-17-7, with the team 7th in Metropolitan Division standings. They will look to bounce back in their next game on Thursday which is against the Maple Leafs again.
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Vinay Dave
(1922 Articles Published)