Patrick Roy never got a training camp, joining the Islanders mid-season. But he's put his team through a training camp mindset and now has them playing winning hockey to get back into a playoff spot.
Patrick Roy never got a training camp, joining the Islanders mid-season. But he's put his team through a training camp mindset and now has them playing winning hockey to get back into a playoff spot.
When New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello fired Lane Lambert and hired Patrick Roy, the goal was to bring in a spark plug to reignite a team that had lost its way.
Roy did not have the opportunity, like most coaches, to establish their systems and culture before a season. He had to make an emotional connection and at least get the team to play a high-energy game before evaluating the roster.
His first week on the job saw that happen.
Despite a 1-2-1 record, there was a new sense of belief in what Roy was telling his team, and they seemed to rally behind him.
Over the next few weeks, the results weren't coming, and his energy seemed to be wearing off a bit.
Then, a six-game win streak happened.
It appeared that Roy had found the proper lines and that the players had grasped the on-the-fly changes needed to be effective in his system.
However, the group hadn't a corner. Shortly after, it lost six straight to fall out of a playoff spot.
Roy continued to line shuffle, working hard in practice on his team's battle mentality and transitioning skills.
Under three months in, 33 games (17-12-4) behind the Islanders bench, Roy's team is back to its winning ways. Earning two points in five straight games, the Islanders now sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with four games to go.
Have all these five games been pretty?
No, but like Roy has said time and time again, he wants his team to find ways to win, even if they aren't their best, and they're doing that.
While the goal was to win immediately, these last three months have served as Roy's training camp, the one he never got.
After trying new things, Roy has found the best line combinations possible.
Having Casey Cizikas alongside Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal has been a game-changer. When those three have been on the ice (56:06 minutes), the Islanders have outscored opponents 5-2, per MoneyPuck.com.
Moving Simon Holmstrom up to the second line for the last game after his strong play could pay dividends.
Having Anders Lee with Jean-Gabriel Pageau has brought the best out of the Islanders captain. Pierre Engvall dropping down to that line has also allowed him to play a more simple game.
Kyle MacLean is in the middle of Cal Clutterbuck, and Matt Martin has all three playing a strong brand of hockey. MacLean has been a perfect Cizikas replacement for those two.
Reuniting Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock has worked, while Noah Dobson and Alexander Romanov have both started to emerge from slumps.
The veteran Robert Bortuzzo has done a solid job alongside Mike Reilly, who has been a catalyst for New York.
Roy's also relied heavily on backup Semyon Varlamov, who won the starting job for now.
He's found a winning formula, and while he isn't afraid to try new things, the way the roster is constructed and these alignments are likely the best he'll get.
He's also getting desperation from his players, which is relatable to a player trying to make the team out of training camp, doing everything they can to prove their value.
In their latest win, a 4-2 defeat of the New York Rangers, Barzal dove to block an Artemi Panarin one-timer in the third period.
"Jeez, we love to see that from Barzy, taking one of the legs there," Islanders captain Anders Lee said. "You need everyone to do that as much as we can. It's not obviously natural for everyone in some ways, but you have to do it, and that was a big block from Barzal, and I think you saw that up and down the lineup. Guys are putting themselves in position to make a play, block a shot, and put their bodies on the line."
Horvat also blocked a shot. Engvall and Maclean beat out icings.
You saw the culture Roy is building come to the forefront in a critical game.
"I saw a lot of desperation tonight. Our D blocked a lot of shots, Barzy blocked a big one, and Bo blocked a big one at the end. It shows a lot. The commitment that the guys are making, our group is really committed to making the playoffs and we know there's a lot of hockey to be played.
"Even if there's only four games left, we need to play that way, and that's the urgency and the desperation we need to see from our guys and that's what we did. Playing against such a good hockey team, you gotta make those plays, and that's what those guys did."
It's been training camp 2.0 since Roy's arrival, and now, knowing the team and the roles they play off and on the ice, he's pushing all the right buttons just in the knick of time.
The only difference is the Islanders aren't gearing up to start the regular season.
They're gearing up for a playoff berth and a playoff run.