Roy's outburst planned
It'll be entertaining watching Patrick Roy as a rookie head coach in Colorado. The Hall of Fame goalie and fiery coach in juniors received a $10,000 fine by the NHL for his exchange with Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau opening night.
Roy, upset that Ben Lovejoy kneed No. 1 overall pick Nathan MacKinnon earlier in the game, twice pushed the alarmingly flimsy glass partition toward Boudreau.
Boudreau said Roy's antics were "bush league" and said it would be a long year for Roy if he keeps yelling at refs and opposing players.
"What Boudreau said was all lies," Roy said the next day.
Regardless, you can bet this was calculated. Avs fans loved it, as did his players, who you know will work hard for a coach that 1) defends them, and 2) has a fiery temper that could one day be aimed at them.
Ugly tie back on bench
Longtime NHL journeyman Dallas Eakins made his coaching debut for the Oilers and in honor of his former Florida coach, Roger Neilson, wore one of the old coach's hideous jungle ties. Neilson died of cancer in 2003.
"Roger was known for his horrible ties and I was saving this one for a long time," Eakins said.
Eakins, by the way, replaced the media's donut breakfast during training camp with daily fruit and yogurt. Eakins is a fitness buff. Most of the media? They're not.
