NEW YORK » The odds were against Scott Gordon all along.

Once the New York Islanders dropped 10 games in a row in the final year of his contract, it was hardly a surprise that he was fired yesterday in his third year as coach.

A three-game sweep on a California trip left the team on an 0-9-1 skid, sealing his fate. Gordon was replaced by Jack Capuano, the coach of the Islanders’ AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Capuano will make his NHL coaching debut tomorrow at home against Tampa Bay.

"It’s not the ideal situation," Capuano said after running practice yesterday. "I have great respect for Scott. … I’ve learned a great deal from him. But there was a change, and I’ll make the best of my opportunity."

The Islanders were already operating with a roster that lacked superior talent and depth when key forward Kyle Okposo and top defenseman Mark Streit were injured during the preseason and lost for months.