UNIONDALE, N.Y. — John Tortorella called the game a mess, but he was in a cheerful mood on Tuesday after his first visit to the New York area since being fired last spring by the Rangers.

He wore a broad smile, not because his Vancouver Canucks had beaten the Islanders, 5-4, in overtime, but because he encountered two friends from East Islip after the game.

Tortorella addressed reporters with his arms around Taylor Ryan, 11, who has been undergoing chemotherapy treatments for cancer for three years, and her younger sister, Samantha.

“Taylor’s had a few things going on with her health-wise; she’s fighting very hard,” Tortorella said. “They’re great friends of mine from last year.”