TOO MANY DUCK LOSSES IN A ROW
Carlyle terminated after GM decided late-season push wasn’t in the cards
Anaheim dumps coach Randy Carlyle in an attempt to end slide that includes seven straight losses and 19 in the last 21 games,
ANAHEIM, CALIF.— Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray tried to give Randy Carlyle as much time as possible to turn things around. But a seven-game losing streak and free fall into last place in the Western Conference showed Murray that a turnaround wasn’t coming soon.
Murray announced that he would take over as interim coach for the remainder of the regular season after firing Carlyle on Sunday. Anaheim will hire a new coach following the season. “What has happened here lately and how we have played, it was time for change,” Murray said during a conference call. “Some people thought I waited far too long, but this team has a history of coming on and charging late. I realized it wasn’t going to happen a few days ago that it wasn’t going to happen.”
After no firings last year, the Ducks are the sixth team to make a change this season, joining Los Angeles, Chicago, St. Louis, Edmonton and Philadelphia.
Carlyle, 62, the winningest coach in Ducks history, was in his second stint with Anaheim. He led the team to the Stanley Cup in 2007 and three appearances in the Western Conference final (2006, 2007, 2017).
Anaheim has made the playoffs six straight seasons, but won just two of its last 21games. The Ducks were second in the Pacific Division on Dec. 18 after winning 11 of 13, but they have gone 2-15-4 since.
Saturday’s 6-2 loss at Philadelphia capped a five-game trip where the Ducks had been outscored 29-7, including 14-0 in the first period.
Murray said he approached ownership following a 4-1loss at Montreal on Feb. 5 that he was considering making a change. Murray was scouting in Europe, but returned and fired Carlyle.
Amid a 12-game losing streak last month, Murray issued a statement saying he wasn’t considering a coaching change and instead was focusing on the roster. Murray shook up the roster with a couple of trades that led to two straight wins, but another losing streak fol- lowed.
Murray became the fifth person in NHL history to both play and serve 1,000 games as a GM, but this is the first time he will be behind the bench as a coach. Murray said it wasn’t fair to name anyone else as the interim coach.