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New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy launched a verbal attack on Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen after the latter was ejected for a hit on Alex Romanov that sent the defenseman crashing hard into the boards during Tuesday night’s game.
Rantanen, the Stars’ leading scorer with 27 points, hit Romanov from behind, sending him crashing headfirst into the boards in the final minute of regulation. Rantanen received a 5-minute major penalty for boarding and was ejected from the game.
Dallas Stars right winger Mikko Rantanen must serve a misconduct penalty for tackling New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on November 18, 2025. (Jérôme Miron/Imagn Images)
But as Rantanen left the ice between the benches, the broadcast captured Roy’s verbal attack on the NHL player.
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“You’re not going to finish this game,” he could be heard saying, apparently in reference to the upcoming clash between the two teams in New York.
Although calmer after the game, Roy continued to call the hit.
“I hope he will be okay. At the moment I don’t know exactly what it is,” Roy told reporters about Romanov.
“But all I’m going to say is when you see the number, you have to lay off. Everybody knows that. You don’t go by the guy. And I’m proud of the way our guys handled it afterward. Nobody was happy to see somebody get hurt like that. Like I said, to me, it’s disrespectful to our guy.
The tense game ended in a 3-2 victory for New York after Wyatt Johnston’s potential game-tying goal with 0.1 seconds left was ruled out for goalie interference. (Jérôme Miron/Imagn Images)
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“This should not be part of our game,” he added.
Romanov did not go to the hospital, but his immediate condition was unknown. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety will review the hit, but according to the Dallas Morning News, Rantanen is not expected to face further disciplinary action.
Stars coach Glen Gulutzan defended Rantanen after the game, saying he believed the forward’s skate was clipped by Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield, causing him to make contact with Romanov.
Stars right winger Mikko Rantanen is removed from the ice after receiving a misconduct penalty during a game in Dallas on November 18, 2025. (Jérôme Miron/Imagn Images)
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“It’s just one of those hockey plays that happened. I hope Romanov is okay,” he said. “It’s a dangerous game for everyone.”
The tense game ended in a 3-2 victory for New York after Wyatt Johnston’s potential game-tying goal with 0.1 seconds left was ruled out for goalie interference.
