Has Patrick Roy actually changed anything for the New York Islanders?

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey – A pair of fans on the bus from the Port Authority Bus Terminal to Metlife Stadium perfectly set the stage for Sunday’s Stadium Series game between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders. 

The Rangers fan, wearing a vintage Brian Leetch jersey, grew sick of the Islanders fan, wearing a Mathew Barzal jersey, ragging on Igor Shestyorkin and the present day “goalie controversy” with Jonathan Quick. 

“Igor is playing in the playoffs, this game is just another game for us, for you guys, this is like your Game 7,” the Rangers fan said. 

The conversation went dead after that. 

And in the first meeting between the Rangers and Islanders since Dec. 22, 2022, it felt like a potential season-ending loss for the Islanders when Artemi Panarin scored 10 seconds into overtime