Page 20 - ATD29NOV2016

A20 SPORTS
Tuesday 29 November 2016
AP Source: Panthers fire coach Gerard Gallant

TIM REYNOLDS airport.
AP Sports Writer They went one way. He
Gerard Gallant was a went another, and be-
coach of the year finalist came the first NHL coach
last season after guiding to be fired since this season
the Florida Panthers to a started.
division title and the best Florida has clearly strug-
regular season in franchise gled at times this season,
history. though it has also been
He made it through 22 injury-ravaged. Jonathan
games this season, be- Huberdeau has not played
fore the Panthers decided yet this season and isn’t
change was needed. expected back for several
The Panthers fired Gallant more weeks, Nick Bjugs-
on Sunday night, a person tad and Jussi Jokinen have
familiar with the decision missed significant amounts
told The Associated Press. of time and Alex Petrovic is
The move was made af- now expected to miss up to
ter the Panthers’ 3-2 loss two months with an ankle
at Carolina — one that injury.
dropped Florida to 11-10-1. Plus, Jaromir Jagr has just
They sit 10th in the Eastern
Conference. three goals so far this sea-
General manager Tom son — after leading the
Rowe will take over as Panthers in scoring a year
coach, said the source, - In this Oct. 8, 2016, file photo, Florida Panthers coach Gerard Gallant talks about his team’s 4-2 ago.
who spoke on condition win over the New Jersey Devils in an NHL preseason hockey game, in West Point, N.Y. Rowe becomes the Pan-
of anonymity because the Associated Press thers’ 14th coach, and the
team has not announced The postgame routine ond-period minutes out of he apparently was told of fifth person to be behind
the moves. Gallant was turned into something most 60 was the team’s undo- the dismissal, and Gallant the Florida bench in the last
under contract through unusual Sunday night. ing against the Hurricanes, then waited for a taxi after five years.
the 2018-19 season, having Gallant spoke after the a game where Florida his luggage was unloaded Gallant was 96-65-25 in
signed an extension back game as always, talking wasted an early 2-0 lead. from the buses that were parts of three seasons with
in January. about how five poor sec- Shortly after that is when to carry the Panthers to the the Panthers.q

N HL Capsules

Hayes breaks drought as

Boston beat Tampa Bay

Claude Julien coached his improve to 8-10-2. Arizona
726th game with the Bruins, is 21-0-4 against Edmonton
tying Milt Schmidt — the in the last 25 meetings be-
oldest living member of the tween the two teams.
Hall of Fame at 98 years old Milan Lucic scored for the
— for second in team his- Oilers, and Talbot stopped
tory. 21 shots.
Ben Bishop made 26 saves JETS 3, PREDATORS 0
for Tampa Bay. WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP)
COYOTES 2, OILERS 1 — Connor Hellebuyck
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) made 42 saves, Drew Staf-
— Jamie McGinn broke a ford scored his first goal of
tie with 3:44 left and Mike the season and Winnipeg
Smith made 41 saves in Ari- beat Nashville to end a
Boston Bruins’ Dominic Moore, left, celebrates with Tuukka Rask after they defeated the Tampa zona’s victory over Edmon- five-game losing streak.
Bay Lightning in an NHL hockey game in Boston, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016. ton. Hellebuyck had his second
Associated Press McGinn was left all alone in shutout of the season and

The Associated Press three-goal second period 30 shots as the Bruins beat front and beat goalie Cam fourth overall. Mark Scheif-
BOSTON (AP) — Jimmy with his first of the season Tampa Bay 4-1 on Sunday Talbot to the stick side. ele and Adam Lowry add-
Hayes capped Boston’s and Tuukka Rask stopped to snap a three-game skid. Radim Vrbata also scored ed empty-net goals for the
Rask allowed only Victor to help the Coyotes com- Jets.
Hedman’s goal with 2:39 to plete a home-and-home Rookie Juuse Saros made
play. sweep. They edged the 21 saves for Nashville. The
David Pastrnak had his Oilers in a shootout Friday Predators beat Winnipeg
team-leading 13th goal, night in the desert. 5-1 on Friday night in Nash-
and David Backes and The Coyotes have won ville with Hellebuyck in
Dominic Moore also scored. three of their last four to net.q