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Devils set to host Islanders after coaching shakeup

Dec 23, 2010 - 4:58 PM (Sports Network) - The New Jersey Devils have seen enough this season to know it's time for a coaching change.

The Devils have decided to fire rookie head coach John MacLean after he led New Jersey to a 9-22-2 record through 33 games and replace him with Jacques Lemaire, who will return to serve as the bench boss on an interim basis starting with tonight's home game versus the New York Islanders.

MacLean, who played 14 seasons for New Jersey, was named the Devils head coach on June 17. He replaced Lemaire, who announced his retirement in April after a one-year return to New Jersey. Lemaire's first tenure as Devils coach came from 1993-94 through 1997-98 and featured the first of the franchise's three Stanley Cup championships. MacLean played under Lemaire in New Jersey and was a member of the club's first championship team in 1995.

"This was a decision that certainly was not one that is pleasant, or we feel good about," said Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello during a Thursday morning press conference. "But it's a decision that, in my opinion, had to be made."

New Jersey has lost its last three games and was recently outscored 10-2 during a brief two-game road trip. The Devils were pounded 7-1 this past Saturday in Atlanta and were then dealt a 5-1 loss Tuesday in Washington. The club scored a total of just 14 goals in nine games this month under MacLean.

The Devils fired 36 shots at Michal Neuvirth on Tuesday, but the Washington netminder turned aside 35 of them to help lead his team to the decisive win at Verizon Center.

Patrik Elias scored the only goal for the struggling Devils, who are just 1-8-0 in December. New Jersey goaltender Marty Brodeur allowed five goals on 28 shots.

"We seem to be making the same mistakes over and over again, and we are losing the same way," said Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner. "For whatever reason, things are not clicking -- we're looking for an easier way to win hockey games, and there is no such thing in this league."

This evening's tilt marks the first of four straight on home ice for the Devils, who are 5-8-2 as the host this year and have lost three of their last four games in Newark.

Also tonight, New Jersey will face an Atlantic Division foe and also the team that it is tied with for the fewest points in the NHL this season. The Islanders gained two points in Wednesday's win over visiting Tampa Bay to give them 20 on the season.

New York has just seven wins this entire season, but one of those victories came in the only meeting so far between the Isles and Devils. Rick DiPietro made 29 saves to help the Islanders record a 2-0 shutout over a visiting New Jersey club on Nov. 26. That victory ended New York's 14-game losing streak and it stands as one of only three wins for the Islanders in their last 24 games (3-17-4).

The Devils have still taken four of the last seven encounters in this series and New York has suffered defeats in each of its last six trips to the Garden State.

John Tavares scored with 1:37 left in overtime to help the Islanders post a 2-1 win over the Lightning. In the extra session, James Wisniewski attempted a pass from the left circle to Tavares at the right side. It hit off a Tampa Bay player in front, but Tavares was able to grab the puck and tuck it behind Dan Ellis for the win. It was the ninth goal of the year for Tavares and his first since Nov. 24.

"When John starts to score it will come in bunches," said New York head coach Jack Capuano. "If he wasn't getting the chances, we'd be concerned. But the last couple of games he's been getting the chances."

P.A. Parenteau scored the other goal while Dwayne Roloson made 34 saves for the Islanders, who have won two of three and have notched points in three straight games for the first time since the end of November.

The Islanders, however, have lost 12 straight games on the road and are just 2-11-3 as the guest this year. New York's last victory away from Long Island came on Oct. 21 in Tampa.