The Islanders have entered their bye week in a jarringly similar place to January of a year ago — where they recovered to make the playoffs and give the Hurricanes a decent challenge, remember — but they have a new leader behind the bench who they hope (as do all of us) will initiate some meaningful change.
It’s the irony of our times that Patrick Roy takes over before a tough four-game stretch and then a bye week where he’s not allowed to coach them up.
The Isles are next in action on Feb. 5 in Toronto, where the Leafs face their own struggles, having fallen to fourth in their division, though still safely in playoff position.