New York Islanders coach Patrick Roy said forward Anthony Duclair was “god-awful” in their loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night, and that the veteran is failing to meet expectations.
Duclair played 12:15 in the Islanders’ 4-1 loss to the Lightning with zero points and finished at minus-1. He only had four shifts in the third period. It was the third straight game in which Duclair played 12:15 or less. He’s averaged 15:03 in ice time this season, his first with the Islanders.
“He was god-awful. He was god-awful. He had a bad game. That’s why I didn’t play him a lot. And he’s lucky to be in the lineup. Sorry if I lose it on him right now, but that’s how I feel,” Roy said.
When asked what he’s seeing in Duclair’s game, the Islanders coach said “it’s an effort thing” for the veteran forward.
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“He’s not skating, he’s not competing, he’s not moving his feet. He’s not playing up to what we expect from him,” Roy said.
Duclair has 7 goals and 4 assists in 44 games with the Islanders, skating to a minus-15. The 29-year-old winger is averaging one point per 60 minutes — which would be a new career low for the 11-year veteran. Duclair signed a four-year, $14-million free-agent contract with the Islanders last summer and has a full no-trade clause through 2026.
New York is now winless in its last six games, struggling down the stretch while chasing the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders trail the Montreal Canadiens by five points with eight games to play.
