Tomorrow night could be make or break for Lane Lambert and the NY Islanders

For the second time this season, after only 44 games, NY Islanders head coach Lane Lambert appears to be on the hot seat. 

The Isles season was going downhill in November, failing to register a win in seven straight games. They turned their season around shortly after, taking points in 11 of 12 games, with the lone exception being a game against the NJ Devils, where they allowed a goal in the dying seconds to lose in regulation. 

Now the Isles are back to their early season ways, registering just five points in their last nine games and are 0-3 on their four-game road trip, scoring just three goals and allowing 12. 

"We can't keep having these conversations about needing to respond," said Lambert before the game in Winnipeg on MSG. "We have to play every game like it's our last one."

The Isles finish off the Western Conference against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, as the the Hawks are ranked 31st out of 32 teams and without star rookie Connor Bedard, who is on IR with a broken jaw. A team the Islanders should defeat, a loss may spark something under Lou Lamoriello that forces him into a decision regarding the coaching staff.

In two weeks, the Isles have dropped from second place in the Metropolitan Divison, down to seventh in points percentage where they currently sit, as the fanbase is once again calling for Lambert's job.

He’s already survived the hot seat once this season, but Lamoriello may be more inclined to move on from the second-year head coach if they suffer a fourth straight loss just a few weeks before the All-Star break. The Isles are entering panic mode past the halfway mark of the season, and it appears Lambert is at that point as well.