Patrick Roy, the legendary former goaltender of the Montreal Canadiens who won two Stanley Cups and a Conn Smythe Trophy during his 12 seasons with the team, returned to the Bell Centre as the head coach of the New York Islanders. The Canadiens honored Roy, whose number 33 hangs in the rafters, with a video montage during the Canadian National Anthem before the 7 PM puck drop, which elicited a powerful reaction from the fans. Roy, who had previously expressed a desire to avoid the spotlight during his return, acknowledged the warm reception and the gesture by the Canadiens, stating his appreciation. Despite the celebratory mood, the Islanders' attempt at a comeback during the game fell short.
Patrick Roy touched by Canadiens’ pregame gesture: ‘I’m thankful’ https://t.co/m7d9pb6BsO https://t.co/fGbBNnYVL4
Islanders’ furious rally falls short in Patrick Roy’s Montreal homecoming https://t.co/RPoozUoha1 https://t.co/1rW0kwp04z
Patrick Roy: “I’d like to thank the Montreal Canadiens for that. It was really nice of them, what they did. The fans, like usual here, this a good crowd. It’s like a New York. Good fans. They love their team and they want to support, and I’m thankful for that.” https://t.co/aCFhRnQC76
Patrick Roy said he wasn't sure what Canadiens would do but was very appreciative of how they handled his return with montage during anthem.
Patrick Roy avoids the fanfare in Montreal return https://t.co/CyEydnnHlc https://t.co/XELj6UtscV
Patrick Roy gets a warm welcome back to the Bell Centre. ❤️ (🎥: @NHL) https://t.co/KrAbkBLfRo
Absolutely incredible moment here in Montreal before puck drop. #Isles #GoHabsGo #NHL @NYIslanders #PatrickRoy https://t.co/WuZsQAw26k
#Isles HC and #GoHabsGo legend Patrick Roy was honored during the National Anthem in what was an incredible moment here at Bell Centre @TheHockeyNews https://t.co/h9jGt12mkQ
Absolutely incredible moment before puck drop here in Montreal. #Isles #GoHabsGo #NHL @IslesMSGN #PatrickRoy https://t.co/wqldNeaWYU
🫡An Incredible Scene: The Centre Bell erupts in cheers as a video montage for @NYIslanders head coach Patrick Roy is played during the Canadian National Anthem #Isles | @CanadiensMTL | @brendanmburke https://t.co/nczEMfMEO2
Very cool move by Canadiens to show photos of Patrick Roy on giant screen during playing of O Canada, followed by a live shot of him behind bench. #Habs do these type of things so well. #HabsIO
This moment of St.Patrick Roy behind the bench for the @NYIslanders at @CentreBell in front of the @CanadiensMTL fans is INCREDIBLE 🥹🔥🥅. EVERY media outlet should’ve been doing special coverage on this today !! #HockeyX #HockeyTwitter https://t.co/HFSgvJbSmF
The Canadiens started showing pictures of Patrick Roy during “O Canada” and the crowd lost its mind. Safe to say Montreal is happy Patrick Roy is back in the NHL. https://t.co/H4xAhHNboE
Epic intro to this game in Montreal- chills all the way through. What a welcome home for new @NYIslanders head coach Patrick Roy. #isles #GoHabsGo @NHL
Huge ovation for Patrick Roy before start of game #Habs #HabsIO https://t.co/HUKzaQD6e4
#GoHabsGo honor Patrick Roy. He gives a head-nod to the fans. The cheers are deafening: https://t.co/oHcryvEcaN
#Habs showing photos of Patrick Roy on giant screen during singing of O Canada. Huge ovation. #HabsIO https://t.co/sKvPqYuPjv
During "O Canada," the Canadiens are posting photos of Roy on the video screen. The fans are reacting as you'd expect. Now they're showing his No. 33 in the rafters, and they're roaring.
Thrilled to have @renlavoietva on #isles pre-game tonight on @MSGNetworks at 6:30! He shares the French Canadian perspective on how meaningful Patrick Roy is to the @NHL - hockey and Montreal! @NYIslanders https://t.co/gaarrvcwM0
My column on Patrick Roy trying to avoid the spotlight in his return to Bell Centre as head coach of New York Islanders. Good luck with that. #Habs #HabsIO #Isles https://t.co/02bSf7q6An
Patrick Roy arrives to meet with media at Bell Centre #Habs #HabsIO https://t.co/cmwl6bvLit
Shutters click as Patrick Roy sits in front of an Islanders backdrop — in front of a Canadiens backdrop — at Bell Centre. https://t.co/isdSuRnLGP
Patrick Roy is back in Montreal, and there are a lot of cameras here https://t.co/CgkK9Aotv4
A Canadiens icon returns behind the opposition bench at the Bell Centre tonight as Patrick Roy's #Isles roll into Montreal to take on the Habs... Viewers in the Habs region can watch LIVE at 7pm et on TSN2, https://t.co/BQGeAnElqf and on the TSN App: https://t.co/VqX4vbcaWZ
Patrick Roy spent 12 seasons as a #GoHabsGo winning two Stanley Cups and a Conn Smythe, before his No. 33 hit the Bell Centre rafters. For the first time since Nov. 14, 2015 as coach of #GoAvsGo, Roy is back tonight with #Isles. Puck drop at 7 PM: https://t.co/68SFhl5MCQ
Tonight won't just be the return of Patrick Roy at the Bell Centre. It will also be Throwback Night to the 2000s, including music from the era. That should be big improvement from the regular music. #Habs #HabsIO
#Isles-Canadiens tonight https://t.co/FqHjLsyKSO
Canadiens goalie Cayden Primeau takes shots underneath Patrick Roy’s No. 33. Roy returns to Montreal tonight as coach of the Islanders. https://t.co/EeqdPCNAKq
Team rosters and stats ahead of tonight's game between the Canadiens and New York Islanders as Patrick Roy returns to the Bell Centre as #Isles head coach #Habs #HabsIO (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS): https://t.co/mwr85s8pCc
Patrick Roy’s unlikely hope about return to Montreal: ‘I don’t want it to be about me’ https://t.co/1ItWPJdACv https://t.co/Cj6x9si4TN