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SPORTS Saturday 15 February 2020
Minnesota Wild fire coach Bruce Boudreau

By STEPHEN WHYNO the tighter game situations son after previously coach-
AP Hockey Writer we could be a little bit bet- ing the Washington Capi-
The Minnesota Wild fired ter." tals and Anaheim Ducks.
coach Bruce Boudreau This is the eighth coach- His team has made the
on Friday with the goal of ing change in the NHL this playoffs in 10 of 12 full sea-
correcting some inconsis- season, and Boudreau is sons, and his 567 wins rank
tencies and making a late- the sixth fired for team per- 22nd.
season push for a playoff formance reasons. That Evason is in his second
spot. matches the most for one season with the Wild after
First-year general man- season in NHL history, ac- coaching the American
ager Bill Guerin said he cording to the Elias Sports Hockey League's Milwau-
felt the timing was right to Bureau. kee Admirals the previ-
move on from Boudreau Minnesota is 27-23-7 and ous six years. He was an
and replace him with in- three points out of a play- assistant under Boudreau
terim coach Dean Evason off spot in the Western Con- for parts of five seasons in
despite the Wild having ference with 25 games left. Washington.
won seven of their past 11 Guerin hopes a "new voice" Minnesota Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau watches his team Guerin said the front office
games. Boudreau was fired from Evason helps the Wild play against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period of will conduct a search for a
an NHL hockey game Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, in St. Paul, Minn.
in the aftermath of a shoot- return to the playoffs. Associated Press full-time coach once this
out loss to the New York "This is all a matter of just season is over. For now, it's
Rangers. winning games down the the playoffs in his first two well," Guerin said. "I like Evason's team.
"It's not just one loss. It's stretch," Guerin said. "I ex- seasons there. Bruce. He's a good guy "Dean has his own thoughts
not one week. It's a series pect this team to compete Guerin took over last sum- and I planned on seeing it and beliefs and what he
of things," Guerin said at for a playoff spot." mer following the firing of through. I came in with an believes is going to give us
a news conference in St. Boudreau, 65, was in his one-season GM Paul Fen- open mind and didn't have success," Guerin said.
Paul, Minnesota. fourth season with the Wild. ton. He said it was not his a decision made. This was "I have full confidence in
"We have shown that we He had been hired by intent from the time he got just something that's been him. The one thing I really do
can be (one of) the best Chuck Fletcher, who has the job to fire Boudreau. on my mind for a little while like about Dean is his pas-
teams in the league or the since been fired and joined "We had a good work- and I felt like today was the sion, his fire for the game. I
so-called best teams in the Philadelphia as its GM. Bou- ing relationship and we day." am hoping that that trans-
league. I think in some of dreau took Minnesota to got along as people, as Boudreau is in his 13th sea- lates to the players."q
Zucker’s two goals help Penguins beat Canadiens 4-1

By DAN SCIFO has 10 wins in its last 14
Associated Press games.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — New- Gallagher scored his 20th
ly-acquired Jason Zucker of the season for Montreal,
scored his first two goals which lost its third straight
with the Pittsburgh Pen- after winning nine of 12.
guins during a 4-1 win over Carey Price made 24 saves
the Montreal Canadiens on for the Canadiens, who
Friday night. failed to score more than
Zucker scored his 15th and two goals in each of their
16th of the season in a 1:42 past four games.
span, with Montreal's Bren- The Penguins acquired
dan Gallagher getting a Zucker from the Minne-
goal in between. Zucker sota Wild on Monday for
provided 2-0 and 3-1 leads forward Alex Galchenyuk,
and has nine goals in 12 ca- defensive prospect Calen
reer games against the Ca- Addison and a conditional
nadiens. Kris Letang scored 2020 first-round pick.
a power-play goal against Pittsburgh spent the previ-
his hometown team and ous five weeks looking to
his 13th overall of the sea- replace All-Star forward
son, and Zach Aston-Reese Jake Guentzel, who is out
added an empty-net goal. until late April after injuring
Penguins captain Sidney his right shoulder on Dec. Pittsburgh Penguins' Jason Zucker, center, celebrates his goal during the second period of the
Crosby had three assists. 30. Zucker's arrival gives the team's NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens in Pittsburgh, Friday, Feb. 14, 2020.
Associated Press
He has points in nine of 11 Penguins' top-six forward
games since returning from group a jolt and additional goal of the game on the goal at 18:00 of the second 19:06 of the second, but
core muscle surgery on scoring depth as Pittsburgh power play at 7:25 of the period. Crosby set it up with Zucker answered for Pitts-
Jan. 14, including a current prepares for another play- second period. Letang the Penguins off the rush. burgh 36 seconds later.
three-game point streak. off push. beat Price to the glove side He passed from below the Zucker, with Canadiens'
He has five goals and 17 Zucker made his Penguins' with a wrist shot from the bottom of the left circle, D Brett Kulak on his back,
points in his last 11 games. debut Tuesday against right faceoff dot. Letang, through two defensemen chipped a pass from Mar-
Tristan Jarry made 34 saves Tampa Bay skating on who continued a four- to Zucker, who one-timed cus Pettersson over Price's
for the Penguins, who Crosby's wing. He tied for game point streak, has 28 a shot off Price's glove and glove from the slot, giving
moved within three points a team-best five shots but points in 35 career games into the net. Pittsburgh a 3-1 lead with
of first-place in the Metro- didn't score. against his hometown Gallagher scored a power- 17.1 seconds left in the
politan Division. Pittsburgh Pittsburgh scored the first team. Zucker scored his first play goal for Montreal at period.q