Patrick Roy, the head coach of the New York Islanders, has suggested that the team should simplify their offense, which has become overly elaborate. After suffering a 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators, marking their third consecutive defeat, Roy expressed his concern about the team’s tendency to overpass instead of taking shots at the net.
Roy pointed out that the goals scored by the Senators were not flashy plays or perfect setups but rather gritty efforts that resulted in goals. He emphasized the importance of simplicity, stating that not every play needs to be pretty. The Islanders need to focus on getting pucks to the net and creating chaos in front of the opposing goaltender.
In their recent game against the Senators, the Islanders did manage to break their scoreless streak with a goal from Matt Martin. However, they had only seven high-danger chances throughout the game, indicating that they were kept to the outside and away from the net and slot areas. This lack of offensive presence has been evident in multiple games leading up to their three consecutive losses.
Kyle Palmieri echoed Roy’s sentiments, acknowledging that there were moments in the game where the team was looking for an extra pass or a better play instead of simply getting the puck to the net. He emphasized that causing chaos in front of the net is one of the key elements that make the Islanders successful.
Roy highlighted the need for a shooting mentality and encouraged the team to bring more pucks to the net. He believes that by doing so, they will become a more dangerous offensive force.
Aside from their offensive struggles, there was controversy surrounding a call made in overtime that led to the Islanders’ defeat. Bo Horvat, who was penalized for holding Tim Stutzle, expressed his disagreement with the call. He argued that he was trying to win his battle and had his arm stuck in Stutzle’s body.
In other news, Robert Bortuzzo’s status was listed as active on the NHL’s media site, although Roy did not confirm whether the defenseman was still on long-term injured reserve.
Overall, the Islanders must address their tendency to overpass and focus on simplifying their offense. By adopting a shooting mentality and creating chaos in front of the net, they can increase their chances of scoring goals and returning to their desired level of offense.
