During a recent NHL game, the New York Islanders’ head coach, Patrick Roy, found himself in a heated confrontation with Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen after the latter was ejected for a controversial boarding hit on Islanders defenseman Alex Romanov. The incident occurred in the final minutes of regulation, with Rantan, the Stars’ leading scorer with 27 points, hitting Romanov from behind, sending the defenseman violently crashing into the boards. This resulted in a 5-minute major penalty and Rantanen’s ejection from the game.
As Rantanen exited the rink between the benches, the broadcast captured Roy’s verbal attack on the NHL player. Roy, known for his intense coaching style, could be heard saying, “You’re not gonna f—ing finish that game,” seemingly referencing the teams’ next matchup in New York. Although remaining calmer after the game, Roy continued to criticize the hit, emphasizing the importance of avoiding such dangerous plays. He expressed hope that Romanov was okay, while reaffirming that players should not go through the other player, stating, “Everybody knows that. You don’t go through the guy.”
The Stars’ coach, Glen Gulutzan, defended Rantanen post-game, attributing the hit to an accidental contact where Rantanen’s skate was clipped by Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield, causing the collision with Romanov. Gulutzan acknowledged the inherent danger in such plays, stating, “It’s a dangerous play for everybody.” Romanov, who did not require hospitalization, had his immediate condition unknown, though the NHL Department of Player Safety will review the incident. According to The Dallas Morning News, Rantanen is not expected to face further discipline.
The game ultimately concluded with a 3-2 victory for the New York Islanders after Wyatt Johnston’s potential game-tying goal in the final seconds was disallowed due to goalie interference.