NY Islanders Head Coach Patrick Roy Reflects on Past Experience Before Game 3

The NY Islanders' horrid display in Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes is a thing of the past as they turn their attention to a must-win Game 3 back at UBS Arena. Dwelling on the past won't change last night's result, but the Islanders can learn from their mistakes.

A 4-time Stanley Cup champion with the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche, Patrick Roy is relying on playoff experiences of his own as the Islanders hope to cut their series deficit to one game on Thursday.

In the first round of the 1993 playoffs, Roy's Canadiens found themselves behind in the series 2-0 to the Quebec Nordiques, losing both games on the road. In Game 1, the Canadiens held a two-goal lead heading into the third period. The Nordiques pulled within one with 1:29 remaining in the game and knotted things up 41 seconds later. Scott Young scored the game-winner for Quebec with under three minutes remaining in OT.

The Habs were dominated in Game 2, heading back to Montreal in a must-win situation. The Habs went on to win the next four games and take the series, ultimately winning the Stanley Cup.

"We gathered, we rallied at home, you have your fans in the building, you have the energy at home - and that's going to be very important," said Roy today on the comparisons between his situation with Montreal and what the Islanders are facing. "Hopefully we're going to respond."

The Islanders have the day off today and will likely be back at practice tomorrow. In 2001 in the Stanley Cup Finals, Roy's Avalanche were given the day off between games 5 and 6, facing elimination and heading back to NJ after a 4-1 loss at home.

"That was huge," said Roy regarding that day off. "That day off, staying home and reset(ing), was a big difference going on a plane the following day and then playing Game 6 in Jersey... I think if we would have played the following day, I don't know if we would have won. But I think that day off, it gives everybody time to reflect and think about what we did and what we could have done different as a group.

The Islanders will need to think long and hard about their mistakes in Game 2 and do almost everything differently. A loss on Thursday and they'll be trailing in the series 3-0, a comeback completed only four times in NHL history.