New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy was shockingly ultra-optimistic after a 6-3 defeat to the Detroit Red Wings, their sixth-straight loss.
The New York Islanders knew the magnitude of their game against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night.
For the first time in quite a while, they looked like the team we had seen on their six-game winning streak before quickly reverting to their troubled ways.
After a scoreless first period, the Islanders quickly answered the Red Wing's opening tally just 2:10 later but then allowed two goals in 2:08 to go down 3-1 after forty minutes.
If the Islanders were going to have any shot of making something of this game, they needed to play a strong, mistake-free third period.
They did not.
Allowing two goals in the opening 6:22 of the final frame, 1:10 apart, the Islanders found themselves down 5-1. To their credit, they never gave up, making it a 5-3 game before allowing an empty-net goal for the 6-3 defeat.
Regardless of the late effort, the result was their sixth straight loss and a taller mountain to climb, sitting five points out of the second wild-card spot with 13 games to go.
"It's not from lack of effort," Jean-Gabriel Pageau said postgame. "Everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to do the right thing. A couple of bounces here and there. They took advantage of their chances, and we didn't. When I had the chance, I didn't put in the net. Could have been the difference."
Mike Reilly didn't mince his words.
"Just a couple of bad breakdowns. But that's on us," the first-year Islander said. "That's not bad luck or anything. Just a couple of breakdowns there, and it was 3-1, and then we were chasing the game. Obviously, we came out pretty flat, though, in the third period.
"It's definitely unacceptable for sure."
Islanders head coach Patrick Roy has tried to keep a positive tone during this losing streak but has had no issues speaking his mind.
However, when he spoke postgame after that critical loss, which showcased the same issues that continue to plague this team, Roy was ultra-optimistic.
"I'll say this. We played well, from the start to the end,' Roy said. "We squeeze our stick a little too much in the first because we had two or three good chances, and then we didn't give them much. And then, in the second period, there were a couple of bad bounces, you know, at the blue line for the breakaway, and then after that, a couple of lost turnovers.
"But overall, seriously...I know the name of the game is winning, but I will say our guys played a really good game. You play this game again, and I'm pretty sure we would win it. I was pleased. Everybody had good chances. I was very happy with the performance of our team. We need to win games, but we need to start by playing well, and tonight...I just feel like we haven't been rewarded for what we deserve. And tonight, we deserve the win."
Unfortunately for Roy and the Islanders, they don't have the luxury of moral victories at this moment in time.
Many, including MSGSN's Shannon Hogan and Thomas Hickey, were shocked by Roy's responses after such a disappointing result.
"I'm actively trying to keep my mouth closed because I was so surprised with what I just heard from head coach Patrick Roy," Hogan said.
"We're talking about a must-win game and playing good or okay today...it's not the [right] level," Hickey said. "To me, it's at least being above that level, exceeding what you expect of yourself. And that's what I saw today, is a group that didn't do that. They did play okay, but did I like their game? No."
Hickey's right.
There's a major difference between giving 100 percent and doing whatever it takes to win.
Roy made a clear decision going into that press conference to be as positive as he could. What ultimately matters is what he said to his team before the cameras went on.
The reality is that Roy is running out of things to say, and instead of burying his players, he's trying to keep the morale high because the season isn't over.
It may look and feel like the Islanders have no chance of making the playoffs, but Roy is not going to rest until there is an "X" next to the word "Islanders."
It also sounds like he's trying to deflect the Islanders' failures right now away from his players and onto him.
Many people woke up on Friday morning mad at Roy for what he said and how on earth he could be positive in a time like this.
After the 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, Roy said that the elongated shifts were the reason for the losses. He said it was a learning moment and that he had to do a better job of managing it.
After the 4-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, Roy said that he should have done a better job communicating his net-front presence.
He's being super professional, which is quite impressive for a competitive person who hates losing more than anything else.
Roy's doing what he can with his roster, and it's clear from all the line changes that he needs more from certain players and also needs more players who fit his style.
Since Roy's arrival, the players have been held more accountable than ever, and Roy can say whatever he wants to say to the media.
It doesn't change the fact that the product on the ice isn't showing that do-or-die mentality that's needed when the season's on the line, and it's disheartening for certain players in that room who do feel that they are giving every ounce to win and also the fan base, who really do care each and every night, even if hopes at a playoff spot are dwindling.