The Islanders Swap Coaches With Four Games Left In A Playoff Chase

Key Points:

• In December 1995, Patrick Roy was left in net by Mario Tremblay despite conceding nine goals, leading Roy to demand a trade from the Montreal Canadiens, which resulted in his move to the Colorado Avalanche and a Stanley Cup win that season.
• Roy was recently fired as head coach of the New York Islanders with only four regular-season games left, as the team was just outside the playoff wild card spot, and was replaced by Pete DeBoer.
• The Islanders had shown promise due to rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer's breakout season and the return of key players, but a recent poor run of form, injuries, and scoring droughts contributed to their slide out of playoff position.
• DeBoer, a coach with a strong resume including eight conference final appearances but no championships, was available and seen as the right long-term choice to stabilize the team’s defense and improve their playoff chances.
• The timing of the coaching change allows DeBoer to prepare during a four-day break before the season's final games, giving the Islanders flexibility to credit him with a late-season boost or a head start on rebuilding depending on their playoff outcome.