New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy expressed his frustration after the team’s 4-1 defeat against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night. He delivered a harsh public criticism of forward Anthony Duclair for his poor performance, contributing to the Islanders’ sixth straight loss. “He was terrible,” Roy stated in the postgame comments.
“He had a bad game, which is why I didn’t play him much. He’s fortunate to still be in the lineup. I apologize if I came down hard on him, but that’s my honest opinion.” Roy continued, “He’s not skating, he’s not competing, and he’s not moving his feet. He’s not meeting the expectations we have for him.”
— Miles Bolton (@milesbolt) April 2, 2025
Duclair saw just 12:15 of ice time, with only four shifts in the third period. He ended the game with a minus-1 rating, two shots on goal, one blocked shot, and one giveaway. The 29-year-old has recorded seven goals and four assists across 44 games this season while carrying a minus-15 rating. The Islanders (32-32-10) have now dropped six straight games and trail the Montreal Canadiens (35-30-9) by five points for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot, with eight games remaining.
Last summer, Duclair inked a four-year, $14 million contract with the Islanders, which includes a full no-trade clause through 2026. A former All-Star with the Ottawa Senators in the 2019-20 season, he has managed just one point in his last 11 outings (three points in 17 games following the 4 Nations break) and is currently averaging a career-low 1.0 points per 60 minutes. The Islanders will aim to snap their losing streak on Thursday when they face the Minnesota Wild in the second contest of their three-game homestand.
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