Patrick Roy’s Hail Mary Gamble Craps Out: So What?

That Patrick Roy makes some interesting coaching decisions could be labeled an understatement. He has a reputation as a coach willing to break traditional hockey norms, particularly when pulling his goalie. His innovative strategies have often been debated. However, his decision to pull the goalie during the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 3-1 win over his New York Islanders during a defensive-zone faceoff marked a new level of daring—a real Hail Mary if there ever was one.

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The Context of the Roy’s Coaching Decision

Under Roy’s coaching, the New York Islanders are enduring a tough season. Conventional strategies often fall short when teams struggle, and coaches are forced to think outside the box. Roy did just that. His decision to pull his goalie when the team’s back was against the wall fitted his reputation for using unorthodox tactics. However, it also shows fans he’s leaving no stone unturned to win games.

Pulling the goalie so early in a defensive scenario could be seen as a last-ditch effort to spark offense and shift momentum. No one can debate that Roy’s decision was a last-gasp effort. But did he have any choice?

The Risk Roy Took vs. the Leafs

Pulling the goalie in a defensive-zone faceoff is inherently high-risk. The opposing team already has a clear advantage and can capitalize on any mistake. By removing the safety net of a goaltender, Roy essentially bet the game on his team’s ability to win the faceoff and transition quickly to an offensive attack. Critics of this strategy might argue that it invites unnecessary danger, particularly when the team struggles.

That said, with less than a minute to go, Roy’s gamble hinged on the potential reward. Suppose his team had won the draw and scored a quick goal. They’d be right back in the game. Had the Maple Leafs won the draw, they would have played keep away no matter when the Islanders did.

As a coach, Roy was desperate to regain control of the game or generate much-needed momentum. By pulling the goalie, he increased the number of skaters on the ice. (He actually evened the number of players up because his team had just been called for a penalty.) Everything had to go right, but it didn’t, and Roy “sevened out” as they call it in craps.

Roy’s Coaching Philosophy

Looking back at this situation, it’s easy to criticize the Islander’s coach, Roy, for his desperate gamble. But, in his defense, would critics wish he had played it safer and lost 2-1 rather than 3-1? A loss is a loss.

This decision fits Roy’s coaching philosophy of challenging hockey’s status quo. He’s long been known for pulling his goalie earlier than most coaches, sometimes with surprisingly successful results. His willingness to push boundaries reflects his confidence in his players and his desire to play the game on his terms. However, as bold as this approach is, it opens him to criticism when the gamble doesn’t pay off.

Pulling the goalie when the team is in the defensive zone seems extreme, and radio announcer Jim Ralph noted that it was a new one for him. But the move was a metaphor (or a meme, as many would call it) for Roy’s fearless coaching style. For the Islanders, who are searching for answers in a tough season, this move could signal that Roy is willing to take any steps necessary to turn the tide. It is out of the box, as Roy tends to be.

Whether hailed as genius or reckless depends on the immediate and long-term results. However, the move undeniably reflects a coach unafraid to challenge conventions. Had everything worked out and the Islanders had won the draw, gone up the ice, and scored a goal within the last minute, would Roy have become a genius?

As it is, he’s just a daring coach whose strategy crapped out this one time. Good for him for going for broke. There was nothing to lose.

Related: Emotional Patrick Roy Let’s Islanders Players Have It After Game