Islanders Name Patrick Roy Head Coach

The Islanders fired Lane Lambert on Saturday and replaced him with the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche legend.

The New York Islanders are tapping a winner to lead their team.

The organization announced Saturday afternoon that Hockey Hall of Famer and legendary former NHL goalie Patrick Roy will replace Lane Lambert as the team’s head coach.

Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello announced the move as the team sits in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division with 49 points.

Roy previously served as coach of the Colorado Avalanche from the 2013-14 season through the 2015-16 season, compiling a 130–92–24 record. The Avs made one playoff appearance in those three seasons, losing in the first round in 2014 to the Minnesota Wild in seven games.

Lambert was in his second season at the helm for the Islanders. New York went 42–31–9 last season and lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games in the first round of the playoffs. The Isles went 19–15–11 through 45 games under Lambert this season.

The New York Islanders named Patrick Roy their new head coach Saturday, replacing the fired Lane Lambert :: Brad Rempel / USA TODAY Sports

Roy is one of the greatest goalies in NHL history. His 551 career victories rank third behind Martin Brodeur and Marc-André Fleury.

Roy won four Stanley Cups as a player—two with the Avalanche and two with the Montreal Canadiens. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2006.