'We Don't Need Toronto': Islanders' Patrick Roy Rips Officials After Disallowed OT Goal

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy and forward Kyle Palmieri didn’t hold back after a controversial no-goal call cost the team a critical win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night. 

With just 8.9 seconds left in regulation, Palmieri deflected a shot from Alexander Romanov past goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, seemingly giving the Islanders a 4-3 victory. 

However, officials immediately waved off the goal for goaltender interference, and after a lengthy review by the NHL’s situation room in Toronto, the call on the ice stood.

Roy was furious, questioning both the decision and the integrity of the review process. “Palmieri was out of the crease and he tipped it in. I think their goalie pushed him away at the same time,” Roy said. 

“If Toronto is afraid to overturn calls made by the referee, we don’t need Toronto.” The call added to growing frustration for Roy, who referenced another recent goaltender interference ruling against the Islanders in a loss to the Canadiens. 

“Are you telling me the [Juraj] Slafkovsky goal was not worse than what we saw tonight?” he said.

Palmieri echoed his coach’s anger, ripping the officials for a decision he believes was fundamentally flawed. 

“He said there was contact initiated in the crease,” Palmieri told reporters. “I think it was f**king embarrassing. I guess the goalie needs five minutes to get reset and ready for the shot. It looked like [the ref] couldn’t wait to wave it off.” 

The Islanders lost in a shootout, earning only one point in a tight Eastern Conference playoff race—one that could come down to nights like this.

Photo Credit: Tom Horak-Imagn Images

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