Patrick Roy Erupts After Controversial Rantanen Hit: Will NHL React to Threat?

It doesn’t appear Mikko Rantanen will receive any supplemental discipline, but he’s going to need to have his head on a swivel the next time the New York Islanders and Dallas Stars meet.

Things boiled over in a hurry on Tuesday night after Rantanen drilled defenseman Alexander Romanov from behind, a hit that earned the Stars forward a five-minute major for boarding and an automatic game misconduct. Romanov was shaken up on the play, and the Islanders’ bench immediately erupted—but no one louder than head coach Patrick Roy.

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Roy absolutely lost it. The moment Rantanen skated toward the penalty box, Roy was already leaning over the boards, shouting in his direction and firing words at the Dallas superstar. Cameras caught him unleashing an old-school tirade, with the audio picking up some of the words he was yelling during his rant. Among them: “You’re not going to f—ing finish that game.”

Roy wasn’t talking about this game—he was referencing the next matchup between these teams four months from now. Whether the NHL has a chat with Roy about his threat against a player remains to be seen. Fans on social media started sharing the clip, with several media members joking it off as Roy being impassioned and standing up for his guy. Perhaps the league will see it that way too.

Roy Spoke About the Hit After the Game

After the game, Roy didn’t walk anything back. Instead, he doubled down on his frustration with the hit and the lack of respect he felt it showed toward one of his players.

“When you see the number, you have to lay off. Everybody knows that,” Roy said. “You don’t go through the guy. To me, it’s disrespectful for our guys. That should not be part of our game.”

Roy also noted his history with Rantanen, reminding reporters he was in Colorado when the Stars forward was drafted. “It’s not his style,” Roy added. “But at the same time, that should not be part of our game.”

No one left the building unsure about how Roy felt. And with the next Islanders–Stars showdown months away, the fuse for that rematch is already burning.

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