It's safe to say the New York Islanders' season hasn't gone as planned, but that isn't stopping their new head coach from thinking they can climb their way back into contention.

Doug Weight - who replaced Jack Capuano for the lead role on the Isles' bench on Tuesday - is confident his group can right the ship and even earn a playoff spot before the season's through, according to the New York Post's Brett Cyrgalis.

Related: Islanders fire head coach Jack Capuano

"I think we're a playoff team," Weight said. "Obviously we've dug ourselves quite a hole, and passing teams in this league is obviously historically been a tough thing to do. But we're going to take it a game at a time."

The Islanders are six points behind in the wild-card race, which is where they must set their sights in the second half of the season. It's their best bet, as getting to third place in the Metropolitan Division would mean closing a 17-point gap with the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

How the roster shakes out under the new leadership appears to be in the players' hands, as Weight said he's looking for his players to prove their worth.

"I want some jerseys flying off their back (from skating fast), and I want to be inspired as a coach," Weight said. "You have to make me look at your number, and have me like, 'I got to get this guy back on the ice. He's competing, he's fresh, he's jumping, he's got confidence.'"

The Islanders won 3-0 in Weight's debut as head coach, topping the Dallas Stars for their second shutout victory in as many games.

Not a bad start to the new bench boss' coaching tenure.

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