NHL Today: Roy Loses First Game With Islanders; Hart Out Indefinitely

Good morning, my name is Andrew Fantucchio. It’s Wednesday, January 24, and here’s what’s happening around the NHL today.

Islanders Lose First Game Under Roy:

Patrick Roy’s balloon didn’t burst, but some air was certainly let out of it as he lost his first game as the head coach of the New York Islanders last night, falling 3-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Some of the Islanders’ worst habits rose to the surface as they made a few costly turnovers in their end that wound up behind Ilya Sorokin in the back of the net. It wasn’t all bad, though. Roy’s vision for fast breakouts and fluid transition through the neutral zone began to come into form, helping the Islanders put up a season-high 42 shots on goal.

“Tonight was a good step,” Roy said. “Now, what I want is some consistency. The opportunities that you have, you just can’t get them to go. Sometimes, the hockey gods are not on your side, and tonight, that was the case.”

The more time Roy has with the Islanders, the more the team will play to his philosophy and take on his identity.

Carter Hart Takes Indefinite Leave Of Absence:

The Philadelphia Flyers have been the biggest surprise in the NHL this year but will now have to go forward without one of their biggest pieces.

Flyers general manager Daniel Brierre said in a statement yesterday that goalie Carter Hart is taking an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons.

It is unclear whether or not Hart’s decision to step away has anything to do with a lawsuit filed in 2022 against the members of the 2018 Team Canada World Junior hockey team, which he was a member of,  for allegations of sexual assault.

In 26 games this season, Hart is 12-9-3 with a 2.80 GAA and a .906 save percentage.

Sam Errson will mind the crease for the Flyers during Hart’s absence, according to Philly Hockey Now’s Jon Bailey.

Devils Extend GM Fitzgerald:

First reported by Darren Dreger of TSN, the New Jersey Devils have agreed to a multi-year contract extension with their general manager, Tom Fitzgerald.

In addition to extending his contract, the Devils are promoting Fitzgerald to be their president of hockey operations.

Fitzgerald joined New Jersey in 2015 and is the architect of the team as it currently stands. He made the selections of Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes with the first overall picks in 2017 and 2019, as well as pivotal trades for Timo Meier and John Marino.

Next on Fitzgerald’s to-do list is to trade for some help in the net, as the Devils have been linked to every goalie on the market this season.