New Delhi, April 6 -- The New York Islanders fired head coach Patrick Roy on Sunday and named Peter DeBoer as his full-time replacement, marking yet another dramatic mid-to-late season shakeup in the NHL. With just four games remaining in the regular season, first-year general manager Mathieu Darche pulled the trigger on the move as the team has tumbled from a comfortable playoff position into a desperate fight for a postseason berth in the stacked Eastern Conference.

The Islanders have dropped four straight games and seven of their last 10, turning what looked like a secure spot into a nail-biter. Darche cited concerns over goaltender Ilya Sorokin being left too exposed and the need for a stronger defensive structure as key reasons behi...