Kraken head coach Lane Lambert returned to the only other place he’s been a head coach in the National Hockey League; Long Island, New York.

“Through any experience, whether as an assistant or a head coach, you learn different things from it,” Lambert said Sunday morning before the game. “I think that sets you up and gives you assistance for your next job, so here we are.”

Lambert was fired 45 games into the 2023-’24 season with his team four games above .500 and two points out of playoff spot. He led the Islanders to the playoffs the previous spring in his first season, only to lose in the first round. That followed four seasons as the club’s associate head coach.

“Surprised,” was all Lambert would say about his firing when asked Sunday morning to look back at his departure. He followed that up by simply saying “past history”, when asked to divulge more about his experience working for then Isles GM and president Lou Lamoriello. Lambert was replaced by Hockey Hall of Fame honored goalie Patrick Roy.

It was also a homecoming, not his first since being a player on Long Island, for Kraken captain Jordan Eberle. Lambert worked with him there for three seasons ending in 2020-’21.

“From that standpoint it was a little while ago,” Lambert pointed out. “Eb’s was a leader, was growing into a leader, and he had a lot of guys to learn from as well. I guess, just like me, with the head coaching experience, he kind of had a bit of leadership experience and he’s grown into that role nicely for us. He’s doing a heck of a job.”

Lambert’s no-nonsense attitude was reflected by his team’s play on Sunday evening, a 1-0 shoot-out loss to the Islanders. Their third game in four nights and their second in less than 24 hours with travel in between, the Kraken battled hard through 65 minutes. The game was a grind.

“I just thought our guys battled and I thought we dug in and gave it everything we had, and got a great performance from our goalie.” Lambert said postgame.

Joey Daccord made 34 saves in officially recording a shut-out. The Kraken head home in second place in the NHL’s Pacific Division.

Earlier Kraken:

— Kraken Win In OT; Beat Penguins 3-2

Earlier Canucks:

— Canucks Desperation; History Repeats Itself