“It’s The Biggest Game Of the Year,” Isles Room Excited for Habs Visit

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — It’s no secret to anyone in the New York Islanders’ room that this is the biggest game of the season, at least so far. All the ups and downs, twists, and turns have led to this game, game #68 against the Montreal Canadiens.

The Islanders will have to do it without Alexander Romanov. Head Coach Patrick Roy said Romanov’s still feeling lingering effects of his illness and does not expect him tom play tonight. What’s a little more adversity for the Islanders this year?

As for the opponents, the Canadiens enter holding the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 73 points in 67 games, three clear of the Islanders with 70 in 67. A win tonight and all of the potential playoff talk becomes extremely valid, with the Islanders having an opportunity to seize true control over their destiny.

A loss and all the goodwill built from consecutive 2-0 comebacks will be lost. The room knows it. Head Coach Patrick Roy knows it. Everyone walking into UBS Arena tonight knows it. Both games this season with the Habs went beyond regulation, with the Islanders winning in a shootout in October while Nick Suzuki won an overtime game in the Bell Centre in December.

Said Bo Horvat, “It’s the biggest game of the year. Obviously, we know where they are in the standings, and all these points matter. We’re going to be playing big games, playoff-type games, do-or-die games the entire rest of the season. We just have to be prepared every single night for that.”

Islanders Room Discussed the Canadiens and the chase of a spot

Throughout the entire Islanders’ room, there was clear excitement yet a sense of calm. After all, the Islanders have proven time and time again that they thrive in the chaos of a late-season push. It’s something the Canadiens haven’t been through yet, but something every player enjoys.

Horvat continued from earlier, saying “[They’re feeling] excitement, to be honest with you. That’s what you’re pushing for every year, to be in meaningful games. They’re definitely in contention and in a playoff spot right now. We’re right in it, too. I think you’ve got to play with excitement, play like your season’s on the line and we’ve got to approach every game that way.”

Kyle Palmieri echoed the sentiment, saying “It’s an opportunity. You’ve got nothing to lose. You wanna be a group that is looked to as dangerous. This time of year, it’s the most fun to play in. I think trying to get yourself into the playoffs, it’s a blast. You just enjoy every second of it. Those highs and lows, they feel a little extra this time of year.”

Those highs and lows are something the Islanders are all too familiar with. The last two years, it came right down to the wire.

Ryan Pulock emphasized that experience carries a lot of weight:

“We know where we’re at. We’ve been in these positions before, and this isn’t really anything new to us. The last few years I feel like this time of year we’ve been clawing our way into a playoff spot. Another chance tonight, so yeah is it the biggest game of the year.”

Pulock said of the Canadiens that he expects a fast, confident group that knows the Islanders are hunting them down for the final spot.

Palmieri emphasized he wants an energized crowd to feed off of tonight.

Roy on Dealing with Roster Uncertainty:

Patrick Roy, speaking in his Native French, had this to say to French reporters about recent success, and if it stems from his energy:

Translated from French to English

“Honestly, I’m not going to take any credit. It’s all our players. Our players have been working incredibly hard since the beginning of the season. We have dealt with important injuries to important players in our team.

And, I’ll tell you, since the trade with Brock Nelson, the players have stepped up. The players understood that each one would give a little more. And it’s how we managed to succeed.”

Then, when a follow-up asked if the veterans present helped to steady that ship after the Nelson trade, Roy said:

Translated from French to English

“I think we have more of a mentality of.. The players who are available to play, they play, especially with all the injuries we’ve had. You look at Barzal playing only 30 games this season. I mean, we must have dealt with situations since the beginning of the season.

We don’t look for excuses. We just do our job and arrive ready for each game and we don’t try to focus on what’s going to happen tomorrow. It’s today and that’s the focus.”

It’s pretty clear just how proud Roy is of his group. The amount of extenuating circumstances that could’ve crippled the season on their own, yet the team is right in the thick of the race, controlling their destiny. The puck drops just after 7:30 tonight.