After a tough 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues during a challenging road trip, the New York Islanders are set to face the Seattle Kraken, led by former Islanders head coach Lane Lambert. The game is scheduled to begin at 5 pm ET and will be broadcast on MSGSN.
Lambert, who previously served as an assistant under Barry Trotz, was promoted to head coach of the Islanders after the 2021-22 season following Trotz’s dismissal. In his first season as head coach, Lambert achieved a 43-31-9 record, guiding the team to the playoffs, where they were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the opening round. However, his second season was cut short after 42 games when then-general manager Lou Lamoriello replaced him with Patrick Roy, a Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender and former Colorado Avalanche head coach.
While Lambert faced criticism on Long Island, especially during Lamoriello’s final tenure before retiring, it’s clear that he inherited a roster that struggled to adapt to the NHL’s evolving fast-paced style of play. Despite mixed results, he was always seen as a coach with potential. After a brief period without a head coaching role, Lambert joined the Toronto Maple Leafs as an associate coach for the 2024-25 season before being hired as the Kraken’s head coach, succeeding Dan Bylsma, who was let go after a disappointing 35-41-6 season.
Under Lambert’s guidance, the Kraken have emerged as a surprise in the Pacific Division, holding the second spot with an 11-5-5 record through 20 games. Their offense is modest, scoring an average of 2.71 goals per game (27th in the league), but their strong defense and goaltending have been key, allowing just 2.67 goals per game, which ranks fourth in the NHL. The goaltending trio led by Joey Daccord has been especially impressive.
Like the Islanders, the Kraken currently sit second in their division and recently won the first game in a back-to-back set, defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime thanks to Brandon Montour’s heroics. For Lambert, this marks his first return to UBS Arena as a head coach since leaving the Islanders’ bench and returning with Toronto.
Fan Take: This matchup highlights the evolving narratives in the NHL, with a former Islanders coach leading a rising Kraken team against his old squad. It’s a thrilling storyline that showcases coaching resilience and strategy shifts, which keeps hockey fans engaged and excited about the sport’s ever-changing dynamics.
