NHL Today: Roy Out Of Answers For Islanders Problems; Simmonds Calls It A Career

Good morning, my name is Andrew Fantucchio. It’s Tuesday, March 19, and here’s what’s happening around the NHL today.

Roy Out Of Answers For Islanders:

Patrick Roy has brought a lot of good things to the New York Islanders since taking over as the team’s head coach. His trademark enthusiasm was a shot in the arm to a team that had lacked a semblance of any before he arrived.

But now, as the Islanders endure what could be a catastrophic losing streak, the fire in Roy’s eyes has dwindled a bit.

You can see it on his face and hear it in his voice. Roy is out of options to help fix the Islanders’ problems and is running out of words to explain them.

Bortuzzo Back In Fold:

The New York Islanders brought in Robert Bortuzzo back in December, thinking he could help their ailing defense corps, ravaged by injuries at the time. However, in a cruel twist of fate, Bortuzzo suffered an injury of his own after just 11 games.

Now, more than two months later, the Islanders have activated Bortuzzo off the long-term injured reserve.

Wayne Simmonds Announces Retirement:

In his 15-year NHL career, Wayne Simmonds scored 526 points with 263 goals while playing in over a thousand games for six different franchises.

Most of those games came with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2010-19.

On Monday, Simmonds says he will sign a one-day contract in Philadelphia on April 13 and retire as a member of the Flyers.

Panthers’ Kulikov Hit With Two-Game Suspension:

The NHL has suspended Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov for an illegal check to the head on Conor Sheary of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Kulikov will now miss Florida’s next two games against the New York Rangers and Nashville Predators, opening a window for Tobias Bjornfort to make his Panthers debut.