Roy has been turning it on lately and is doing his best to ensure the Leafs’ bottom six impress on the team’s current road trip. Roy has not only gotten on the scoresheet, but he has also been a big part of the penalty shootout for Toronto, which has been absolutely dominant in recent weeks.
Roy is an interesting x-factor for the Maple Leafs, based on the fact that he plays on both sides of special teams, and is the only right-handed option in the faceoff circle. Although it took him a month to adjust to Craig Berube’s structure and find some on-ice chemistry as the Leafs head to Carolina to wrap up a six-game road trip, Berube should be happy to have finally found a strong combination for his third line.
Toronto has won three of their last four games, and it would have been four in a row without Washington’s recent collapse. Roy is doing his part to make an impact in all three zones, and it feels like this is the most confident this hockey club has been all season, which is wild considering it’s December. Against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night, Roy showed exactly what he has to offer, and exactly what Brad Treliving was hoping for when he acquired him from the Vegas Golden Knights in the Mitch Marner trade.
Strong from the faceoff spot, Roy went 12-for-15 against the Panthers. Provide some offense, Roy’s line had four points, which should have been five, because it looked like Roy got a stick on Troy Stecher’s goal. Roy made his presence known in all situations, playing nearly three minutes on the second power play unit and being one of Toronto’s best penalty killers. A jack of all trades, with a bit of a pep in his step lately.
The Maple Leafs have something in Nicolas Roy. He’s making his presence felt, carving out a role for himself and quickly becoming one of Toronto’s most important players.
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