In a surprising midseason move, the New York Islanders have announced the firing of coach Lane Lambert and the appointment of Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy as their new head coach. The decision comes as the former Eastern Conference playoff contenders have struggled to find success on the ice.

President of hockey operations and general manager Lou Lamoriello made the announcement on Saturday, citing the team's recent poor performance as a factor in the coaching change. The Islanders have lost four consecutive games and six out of their last seven, which has resulted in them falling out of a playoff spot.

Lambert, who was midway through his second season with the team, had been serving as Former Islanders coach Barry Trotz's right-hand man before being promoted to head coach in 2012. He played a pivotal role in the Islanders' 2018 Stanley Cup victory with Trotz's Washington Capitals.

Replacing Lambert is the legendary Patrick Roy, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and Hall of Fame goaltender. Roy has not coached in the NHL for nearly a decade but has been mentioned as a potential candidate for various coaching vacancies.

Roy previously coached the Colorado Avalanche for three seasons from 2013 to 2016, leading the team to the playoffs in Nathan MacKinnon's rookie season and earning the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year in 2013-14. Since then, he has spent the past five seasons coaching and serving as GM for the junior Quebec Remparts.

With his wealth of experience and success in the NHL, Roy is expected to bring a fresh perspective and leadership to the struggling Islanders. His track record as both a player and a coach makes him a highly respected figure in the hockey community.

The Islanders' decision to make a coaching change reflects the increasing trend in the league this season. Lambert becomes the fifth coach to be fired, following Jay Woodcroft from Edmonton, Dean Evason from Minnesota, Craig Berube from St. Louis, and D.J. Smith from Ottawa.

Only time will tell if Roy's appointment can turn the tide for the New York Islanders and reignite their playoff aspirations. Fans and analysts alike will be eagerly watching to see how the team responds under their new head coach.