"It's pretty simple: Back-checking is an important part of our game and our concept. We talked about it on the road, and it's my job to make guys accountable Back-checking doesn't require talent; it requires will, and this is what this team is about."
"Barzy is a leader on this team, and unfortunately, for Anders, he was on that line, and sometimes, you have to take it for the team, Roy said. I have nothing to say about himHe's part of that line. Anders has been playing hard; he works hard, and he back-checks hard. He does everything well, but that's the line. You play with your linemate, you stick with your linemate, and you back your linemate."
Sabres defeated Islanders 5-0 at UBS Arena, with Tage Thompson scoring late in the second period. Head coach Patrick Roy benched the second line of captain Anders Lee, Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair for the entire third period for failing to backcheck on the play that led to Thompson's goal. The Islanders finished the game with three forward lines for the final 20 minutes. Roy emphasized that back-checking is about will and accountability. The benching followed a similar back-checking lapse in a 4-1 loss to Seattle and capped a disappointing end to a seven-game road trip.
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