Roy Says There’s No Going Back

NHL

A sobbing, apologetic Patrick Roy said there was no chance of reconciliation with the Montreal Canadiens.

“I really wanted it to end differently - not in a stupid way like this,” Roy said at a news conference Monday at a suburban hotel in Montreal. “My career is taking a new turn. It’s not easy and it’s too bad how this whole situation turned out.”

Roy, suspended with pay and placed on the trading market by the Canadiens on Sunday, promised to stay in shape until Canadiens general manager Rejean Houle can arrange a trade.

Roy, 30, said the split resulted solely from his being yanked at 11:57 of the second period after allowing nine goals on 26 shots during an 11-1 loss to Detroit on Saturday night.

When he reached the bench, Roy glared at coach Mario Tremblay, then leaned over and told club president Ronald Corey, “That’s my last game in Montreal.”

He has been criticized repeatedly for what fans perceived as childish behavior when Tremblay lifted him from the game.

“I hope my fans will forgive me for the gesture I made,” he said. “I was frustrated and humiliated. What’s done is done but I regret it.”

Roy said that before Saturday’s developments, he got along with Tremblay, although he admitted it felt strange to be coached by a former teammate. In his rookie season in 1985-86, Roy was Tremblay’s roommate.

The Canadiens will lose a three-time Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL’s top goaltender and the star player who led them to Stanley Cups in 1986 and 1993.

Bonus points

Mario Lemiuex, who had 12 points while leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to four straight victories, was named the NHL player of the week. The Pittsburgh center had four goals - including a game-winner - and eight assists. … Left wing Kent Manderville was traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Edmonton Oilers for center Peter White and a four-round draft pick in 1996.

Rangers 5, Ducks 1

New York

Luc Robitaille and Adam Graves each had a goal and an assist as New York extended its home unbeaten streak to 10 games with a win against Anaheim.

Robitaille and Mark Messier scored insurance goals 55 seconds apart late in the third period in the Rangers’ first victory in four games against the Mighty Ducks.

Darren Langdon also scored for the Rangers, but took a stick to the face midway through the second period and did not return. Sergei Nemchinov also scored with 19 seconds left in the game. Mike Sillinger scored the Ducks’ only goal.

Anaheim 1 0 0 - 1

N.Y. Rangers 2 0 3 - 5

First period-1, New York, Graves 10 (Messier, Robitaille), 2:47. 2, Anaheim, Sillinger 10 (Carnback, Pronger), 14:30. 3, New York, Langdon 4, 14:50.

Second period-None.

Third period-4, New York, Robitaille 11 (Graves, Messier), 12:43 (pp). 5, New York, Messier 16 (Verbeek, Leetch), 13:38 (pp). 6, New York, Nemchinov 6 (Sundstrom), 19:40.

Shots on goal-Anaheim 8-9-9-26. New York 12-15-17-44.Power-play opp.-Anaheim 0 of 7; New York 2 of 4.Goalies-Anaheim, Shtalenkov 2-5-2 (44 shots-39 saves). New York, Richter 11-7-2 (26-25).A-18,200 (18,200).