TOP STORY
OUT WITH THE OLD...
IN WITH THE OLDER
(Photo Credit: Chris Seward - Raleigh News & Observer & Getty Images )
Peter Laviolette is fired as Hurricanes Head Coach while Paul Maurice gets a 2nd stab at the gig
The Carolina Hurricanes fired head coach Peter Laviolette on Wednesday and named former coach Paul Maurice as his replacement. Laviolette, who guided Carolina to the 2006 Stanley Cup, has been unable to match that success since and failed to make the playoffs in the last two seasons. The change comes with the Hurricanes slipping down the Eastern conference standings after losing four of their last five games to drop into eighth place with a 12-11-2 record.
I'm very thankful to Peter for the job he has done. He did a lot of good things. He played a big part in bringing the Stanley Cup here, but we have a team right now that in my opinion is not playing with the kind of confidence it needs" said GM Jim Rutherford on Hurricanes.nhl.com. "We looked at the coaching situation three or four times... it's not about the last four or five games. It's about getting the chemistry back on our team, getting the confidence back." Laviolette exits as the most successful American-born NHL coach with 244 wins. He is the third coaching casualty of the season after Chicago Blackhawks' Denis Savard and Tampa Bay Lightning's Barry Melrose were fired earlier this season.
Paul Maurice returns to Carolina and holds the franchise record for most wins (268 - from 1995-2003). He spent the past two seasons as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs who let him go at the end of last term. The Canadian coach will be assisted by Hockey Hall of Fame player Ron Francis, who spent 16 of his 23 NHL season with the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes needed to do something, and in these situations, it's usually the coach that goes. This firing goes back to the end of last season when the Hurricanes blew the division and a playoff spot on the last weekend of the season. The 'Canes have good talent up and down the roster and are better than an 8th place team.
Carolina has been consistent at being inconsistent. Here is their win/loss game log of the season:
2 wins, 2 losses, win, loss, win, loss, win, loss, 2 wins, loss, win, 3 losses, 3 wins, 3 losses, win, loss.
2 wins, 2 losses, win, loss, win, loss, win, loss, 2 wins, loss, win, 3 losses, 3 wins, 3 losses, win, loss.
I like Laviolette and he will definitely land on his feet somewhere else, but it was time for a change in Raleigh. It's early December, so Carolina has plenty of time to right the ship in a weak division.
OTHER HEADLINES
-Joe Sakic has been bothered by a bad back all season and will be sidelined at least six weeks while receiving treatment for a herniated disc. Team doctors recommended he not return to the ice until mid-January. Sakic originally strained his back in the weight room, causing him to miss a game against Minnesota on Nov. 6. He returned two days later and played against Nashville, but was sidelined for five more games because of the back. An infected tooth caused him to miss a game at Anaheim on Nov. 24 before he returned to the lineup Nov. 26 against St. Louis, only to get hurt again two days later.Sakic had his most difficult season last year, missing 38 games following hernia surgery before returning to the lineup to help the team reach the playoffs after a one-year absence.-year and is not even considering the possibility of playing in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics in his native Canada
-Philadelphia Flyers center Daniel Briere will miss the next four to five weeks with a groin strain.Briere left Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning after taking a hit in the second period. Prior to that contest, he had missed 14 of the previous 16 games with a series of injuries. In only nine games played this season, Briere has five goals and four assists with 10 penalty minutes.
-NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will meet with Sean Avery about his off-color comments before Tuesday night's game against Calgary today.
LAST NIGHT'S RECAP
New York Rangers (18-8-2) over the Pittsburgh Penguins (14-6-4) 3-2 (SO)
TOP PERFORMER = Rangers RW Petr Prucha - 1 goal (Game-Tying Goal)
-For the second visit in a row for the Penguins to MSG this year, they blew a two goal lead and lost in a shootout. Penguins D Mark Eaton got the Penguins on the board in the 1st period and Jordan Staal would make it 2-0 in the 2nd period. Rangers RW Nikolai Zherdev would cut the lead in half on a beautiful deflection from Scott Gomez. In the 3rd period, Petr Prucha would score with six minutes remaining. In the shootout, all three Rangers shooters (Markus Naslund, Zherdev, Freddie Sjostrom) would score to give them the win. Rangers D Wade Redden had two assists in the victory. The Penguins have now lost their last seven games in Madison Square Garden.
Ottawa Senators (9-10-4) over the Atlanta Thrashers (8-14-3) 5-1
TOP PERFORMER = Senators LW Dany Heatley - 1 Goal, 2 Assists
-The Pizza line put this game away early (Heatley, Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza-PPG) by scoring a goal a piece and having a 3-1 lead after the 1st period. Brendan Bell (PPG) would score for Ottawa in the 2nd period and Shean Donovan would add a goal in the 3rd period. Eric Boulton scored the lone Thrashers goal. Senators D Filip Kuba chipped in with 2 assists. The Senators have gotten points in six of their last seven games (a season high). On the flipside, the Thrashers have given up four or more goals in five straight games (all losses).
LAST NIGHT'S RECAP
New York Rangers (18-8-2) over the Pittsburgh Penguins (14-6-4) 3-2 (SO)
TOP PERFORMER = Rangers RW Petr Prucha - 1 goal (Game-Tying Goal)
-For the second visit in a row for the Penguins to MSG this year, they blew a two goal lead and lost in a shootout. Penguins D Mark Eaton got the Penguins on the board in the 1st period and Jordan Staal would make it 2-0 in the 2nd period. Rangers RW Nikolai Zherdev would cut the lead in half on a beautiful deflection from Scott Gomez. In the 3rd period, Petr Prucha would score with six minutes remaining. In the shootout, all three Rangers shooters (Markus Naslund, Zherdev, Freddie Sjostrom) would score to give them the win. Rangers D Wade Redden had two assists in the victory. The Penguins have now lost their last seven games in Madison Square Garden.
Ottawa Senators (9-10-4) over the Atlanta Thrashers (8-14-3) 5-1
TOP PERFORMER = Senators LW Dany Heatley - 1 Goal, 2 Assists
-The Pizza line put this game away early (Heatley, Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza-PPG) by scoring a goal a piece and having a 3-1 lead after the 1st period. Brendan Bell (PPG) would score for Ottawa in the 2nd period and Shean Donovan would add a goal in the 3rd period. Eric Boulton scored the lone Thrashers goal. Senators D Filip Kuba chipped in with 2 assists. The Senators have gotten points in six of their last seven games (a season high). On the flipside, the Thrashers have given up four or more goals in five straight games (all losses).
Minnesota Wild (15-8-1) over the St. Louis Blues (10-11-2) 4-0
TOP PERFORMER = Wild G Nicklas Backstrom - 22 Saves (Shutout)
-Wild C Eric Belanger drew first blood for Minnesota in the 2nd period on a set up from Pierre-Marc Bouchard. In the 3rd period, Andrew Brunette and Marek Zidlicky scored on the power play and Antti Miettinen added an empty net goal to seal the win. Nicklas Backstrom earned his second shutout win of the season. Minnesota is 10-3-1 vs. St. Louis since the lockout.
-Wild C Eric Belanger drew first blood for Minnesota in the 2nd period on a set up from Pierre-Marc Bouchard. In the 3rd period, Andrew Brunette and Marek Zidlicky scored on the power play and Antti Miettinen added an empty net goal to seal the win. Nicklas Backstrom earned his second shutout win of the season. Minnesota is 10-3-1 vs. St. Louis since the lockout.
Chicago Blackhawks (11-6-6) over the Anaheim Ducks (14-10-3) 4-2
TOP PERFORMER = Blackhawks C Jonathan Towes - 1 Goal, 1 Assist (GWG)
-Patrick Sharp scored on the power play late in the 1st period on a set up from Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Teemu Selanne would score the only goal of the 2nd period on the power play to tie the game up. In the 3rd, Chris Pronger would give Anaheim a 2-1 lead for most of the 3rd period. With 5:45 remaining, Martin Havlat would tie the game for Chicago. Four minutes later, Jonathan Toews scored the game winner and David Bolland would add an empty net goal. Ducks G Jonas Hiller made 37 saves in the loss while Christobal Huet made 30 saves in the win. The Blackhawks improved to 7-1-4 at home. Former Chicago RW Steve Larmer was honored before the contest and dropped the ceremonial first puck. Larmer played in a team-record 884 consecutive games spanning 11 seasons.
TOP PERFORMER = Blackhawks C Jonathan Towes - 1 Goal, 1 Assist (GWG)
-Patrick Sharp scored on the power play late in the 1st period on a set up from Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Teemu Selanne would score the only goal of the 2nd period on the power play to tie the game up. In the 3rd, Chris Pronger would give Anaheim a 2-1 lead for most of the 3rd period. With 5:45 remaining, Martin Havlat would tie the game for Chicago. Four minutes later, Jonathan Toews scored the game winner and David Bolland would add an empty net goal. Ducks G Jonas Hiller made 37 saves in the loss while Christobal Huet made 30 saves in the win. The Blackhawks improved to 7-1-4 at home. Former Chicago RW Steve Larmer was honored before the contest and dropped the ceremonial first puck. Larmer played in a team-record 884 consecutive games spanning 11 seasons.
Edmonton Oilers (11-11-2) over the Dallas Stars (9-12-4) 5-2
TOP PERFORMER = Oilers D Lubomir Visnovsky - 1 Goal, 1 Assist
-The weight of Sean Avery being lifted off the Dallas Stars' shoudlers was short lived. Shawn Horcoff, Lubomir Visnovsky, and Marc-Antoine Pouliot gave Edmonton a 3-0 lead after two periods. Mike Modano would score a minute in to the 3rd period and would get Dallas close when he scored again with 1:40 to go. Ales Hemsky scored an empty net goal with :51 seconds to go and Andrew Cogliano added another goal with :13 remaining. Mathieu Garon made 23 saves to go to 4-5-0 on the season in his first start since 11/6. There was a scary moment midway through the third when Dallas' Stephane Robidas' slap shot hit teammate Mark Parrish in the face, but the forward was able to remain in the game.
TOP PERFORMER = Oilers D Lubomir Visnovsky - 1 Goal, 1 Assist
-The weight of Sean Avery being lifted off the Dallas Stars' shoudlers was short lived. Shawn Horcoff, Lubomir Visnovsky, and Marc-Antoine Pouliot gave Edmonton a 3-0 lead after two periods. Mike Modano would score a minute in to the 3rd period and would get Dallas close when he scored again with 1:40 to go. Ales Hemsky scored an empty net goal with :51 seconds to go and Andrew Cogliano added another goal with :13 remaining. Mathieu Garon made 23 saves to go to 4-5-0 on the season in his first start since 11/6. There was a scary moment midway through the third when Dallas' Stephane Robidas' slap shot hit teammate Mark Parrish in the face, but the forward was able to remain in the game.
RUMOR MILL
-The Edmonton Oilers have thrown their hats in to the Jay Bouwmeester sweepstakes.
AROUND THE BOARDS
-The Phoenix Coyotes have acquired forward Joakim Lindstrom from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Logan Stephenson. Lindstrom, a second-round pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets, has four goals and four assists in 37 career NHL games. He scored seven goals and added 14 assists in 21 games for Iowa of the AHL this season. Last season, Lindstrom split time between the NHL and AHL, registering three goals and four assists in 25 games with the Blue Jackets. The 24-year-old Lindstrom will join the Coyotes' American Hockey League affiliate in San Antonio. Stephenson, the 35th overall pick of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, has recorded one goal and one assist, as well as 40 penalty minutes in 19 games this season while playing for San Antonio.
GAME OF THE NIGHT
New York Rangers (18-8-2) @ Montreal Canadiens (14-6-4) - 7PM
-The Edmonton Oilers have thrown their hats in to the Jay Bouwmeester sweepstakes.
AROUND THE BOARDS
-The Phoenix Coyotes have acquired forward Joakim Lindstrom from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Logan Stephenson. Lindstrom, a second-round pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets, has four goals and four assists in 37 career NHL games. He scored seven goals and added 14 assists in 21 games for Iowa of the AHL this season. Last season, Lindstrom split time between the NHL and AHL, registering three goals and four assists in 25 games with the Blue Jackets. The 24-year-old Lindstrom will join the Coyotes' American Hockey League affiliate in San Antonio. Stephenson, the 35th overall pick of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, has recorded one goal and one assist, as well as 40 penalty minutes in 19 games this season while playing for San Antonio.
GAME OF THE NIGHT
New York Rangers (18-8-2) @ Montreal Canadiens (14-6-4) - 7PM
The Rangers seek their fifth win in six games on tonight as they visit the Montreal Canadiens, who are in the midst of a record seven game homestand. The Rangers rallied from a two-goal deficit, and all three shooters converted in the shootout for a 3-2 home win over Pittsburgh last night. The Rangers regained sole possession of the Eastern Conference lead with the win. Henrik Lundqvist earned his NHL-leading 16th victory in the win. New York has won three of its last four road contests. The Canadiens are coming off an interesting game with the Trhashers. With a 3-0 lead heading into the final 20 minutes, the Canadiens allowed three unanswered goals in a 59-second span before a pair of tallies helped them hang on for a 5-4 home victory over Atlanta on Tuesday. It has alternated wins and losses in its last six in Montreal, but has won six of the teams' last eight matchups (6-1-1) since the start of the 2006-07 season.
Other Action:
Pittsburgh (14-6-4) @ Carolina (12-11-2) - 7PM
New Jersey (12-8-2) @ Philadelphia (12-7-5) - 7PM
NY Islanders (10-12-2) @ Washington (13-9-3) - 7PM
Vancouver (14-9-2) @ Detroit (16-4-4) - 7:30PM
Boston (16-4-4) @ Tampa Bay (6-10-8) - 7:30PM
Buffalo (11-10-3) @ Florida (10-11-3) - 7:30PM
Colorado (12-12-0) @ Nashville (12-10-2) - 8PM
Toronto (9-10-6) @ Phoenix (11-11-2) - 9PM
Columbus (11-10-3) @ San Jose (21-3-1) - 10:30PM
^ALL TIMES EASTERN
*My weekly power rankings, "PLUS/MINUS", comes out Monday evenings
~Dropping the Gloves with Andrew Bogusch comes out Wednesday evenings
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