The New York Islanders and the New York Rangers are set to renew their rivalry Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.
Islanders head coach Patrick Roy was certainly aware of the rivalry before stepping foot on Long Island and quickly learned just how intense these games were.
When he took over for Lane Lambert on Jan. 20, 2024, the Islanders had yet to face the Rangers that season.
That meant he would be behind the bench for four of those games, one of which was outside at MetLife Stadium less than a month after he took the job.
In those four games, the Islanders went 1-1-2 against their cross-town rivals.
The first matchup ended in a 6-5 loss outside under the lights. In this game, the Islanders were up 4-1 early in the second period and 5-3 before ultimately collapsing and falling in overtime.
The word to describe that game was devastation.
The two teams then met again on March 17 at Madison Square Garden, a game where the Rangers just took it to Roy's squad, a 5-2 loss.
Roy notched his first win against the Rangers on Apr. 9, a monumental 4-2 win, as the Islanders were vying for a playoff spot.
The Rangers got the final laugh, a 3-2 shootout win at MSG on April 13.
"There are a lot of fans that watch those games," Roy said.
It's a rivalry that reminds Roy of the intense rivalries he participated in as a player when he suited up for the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche.
"It's a bit like when I was in Montreal, and we played Quebec, or if it was Colorado, with Detroit," Roy said.
Hockey is at its best when the games get intense, and for those who don't know Roy, intense is his middle name.
"The fans are into those games," Roy said. "The media are in these games, and I think it's exciting for the game of hockey."
Sunday's game, a 1 PM puck drop at Madison Square Garden, is a chance for the Islanders to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.
After a gutsy 4-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres, without Anthony Duclair and Mathew Barzal entering the game and losing Adam Pelech and Mike Reilly during it, a win against the Rangers would be considered monumental and another step forward in turning their season around.
