The NHL and Gary Bettman may be fining New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy after he broke a major rule before his team’s game last night.

The New York Islanders were deeply dejected after an epic meltdown against the Florida Panthers last night. Dominant through the start, the Islanders exploded out of the gate early on and led 3-0 just over halfway through the first period. But what transpired after that was just a freakish turn of events in which they allowed six unanswered goals to take an embarrassing 6-3 loss. The players and fans could not believe the sudden turnaround in the fortunes of a team that started off so well.

The whole surreal feeling of it was made all the more bizarre by the strange decision of Islanders coach Patrick Roy to avoid the media ahead of the game. This is very unusual and also against NHL rules; the reason being, that coaches and players are supposed to be available to the media for pre-game press conferences.

While eluding questions that are tough and/or they do not want to answer is pretty routine by coaches, completely skipping out on media availability is rare. The move has the potential to invite sanctions against the Islanders since the NHL has strict rules regarding media obligations.

Maybe Patrick Roy’s very fiery personality was a determinant factor in this strange move. With his reputation for having a temperament and an intense character, Roy has never been known to back away from a fight. His history of dramatic outbursts on and off the ice parallels that of another well-known figure in the NHL: Lou Lamoriello. Much like Roy, Lou Lamoriello is notorious for his commanding attitude and stern demeanor. Both have been in the headlines over the years for their emotional outbursts, making them two of the league’s most infamous hotheads. Put coaches with those kinds of personalities under pressure, and sometimes they will make decisions that leave everyone bewildered, like avoiding the media in this case.

Ironically, Patrick Roy did speak to the media following the game, as is custom. He most certainly could have avoided the post-game press conference since the embarrassment of blowing such a commanding lead might have been too much to bear. His mood during the presser was tense, and he subtly hinted at his dissatisfaction with the lineup, insinuating he didn’t want to play Pierre Engvall, but was forced to include him in it. All this frustration only added to the drama after the game, with everyone wondering what was happening behind the bench.

The loss by the Islanders to the Panthers was not just a story about one team losing a very early advantage but rather a tale about an unpredictable head coach under pressure. Patrick Roy’s fiery nature, much like the general manager Lou Lamoriello may explain the strange behavior he perpetuated before the game even started. As both men have shown, their intense personalities can sometimes overflow into their decision-making and create situations that are pretty unbelievable on and off the ice.