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Jack Capuano, who was coach of the Islanders' American Hockey League affiliate in Bridgeport, Conn., will take over on an interim basis.

"We've lost 10 in a row," general manager Garth Snow said during a conference call. "Sometimes, you have to go with your gut and make decisions that are tough."

Capuano has no NHL head coaching experience, working his way up from the ECHL, where he was general manager of the Pee Dee Pride from 1997-2005. He served as an assistant with the Islanders in 2005-06 and has been Bridgeport coach the past four seasons, going 133-100-22, including a 49-win season in 2008-09.

"It's a comfort knowing there doesn't have to be a feeling-out process with the players," Snow said. "He knows the players and that familiarity, to me, made it the best fit at this point."

Snow wouldn't talk about how long Capuano would be coaching the Islanders, saying his first concern was putting on a good effort at home Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning were the last team that the Islanders beat this season.

"He's excited about the opportunity and is looking forward to help turn this team around," Snow said.

Under Gordon, the Islanders finished last in the league with 61 points during a rebuilding phase then improved by 18 points in his second season, still finishing fifth in the Atlantic Division and missing the playoffs. There was hope that they could build on that and make the playoffs for the first time since 2006-07.

Those hopes faded when Mark Streit and Kyle Okposo suffered shoulder injuries during training camp, but the Islanders picked up 10 points in their first seven games. John Tavares (mild concussion) and James Wisniewski (two-game suspension) were missing for part of that stretch, too.

Then the current losing streak began. They have reached overtime only once during their slide to fall into a tie with the Edmonton Oilers for the league-worst 11 points (the Islanders have played one more game). Included were back-to-back blowout losses to the Philadelphia Flyers (6-1) and Carolina Hurricanes (7-2).

"The biggest issue with our team right now is confidence," Snow said. "We have to establish that swagger that we had early this season."

Snow said it was "very disappointing" to have to fire Gordon, who will remain with the team as an adviser to the general manager.

"Scott is an excellent coach and a very good friend," Snow said. "It was a great experience to work with him the last three seasons."