Coach Hynes f ired by Devils
Team has faltered despite having 3 No. 1 overall picks
John Hynes paid the price for the New Jersey Devils failing to deliver on the high expectations created by having three No. 1 overall picks in the lineup.
Hynes was fired as coach Tuesday after a 9-13-4 start that left the team in last place in the Metropolitan Division and with the NHL’S secondworst record.
Hynes had been coach for four-plus seasons, compiling a 150-159-45 record. He ranks second in team history in games coached, wins and points (345).
General manager Ray Shero said assistant Alain Nasreddine would become the interim coach and Peter Horachek, a pro scout for the team, would join the coaching staff as an assistant.
The dismissal comes a day after the Devils were ripped by the Buffalo Sabres 7-1. That followed a 4-0 loss at home to the rival New York Rangers on Saturday.
“I don’t think there is any one player performing even at the level, let alone above, that we would expect or they would expect,” Shero said.
The Devils had high hopes entering the season after drafting Jack Hughes with the No. 1 overall pick just two years after taking Nico Hischier with the No. 1 pick. The other first overall pick on the roster is Taylor Hall, who won the league MVP award in 2018 after leading New Jersey to the playoffs.
Golden knights 4, devils 3: Jonathan Marchessault scored three straight goals in the third period to rally Vegas. Nico Hischier, Kyle Palmieri and Jesper Bratt scored, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 26 saves for New Jersey. canadiens 4, islanders 2: Phillip Danault, Brendan Gallagher and Shea Weber each had a goal and an assist as Montreal snapped an eight game skid. Scott Mayfield and Matthew Barzal scored for the Islanders, and Thomas Greiss had 36 saves.
Bruins 2, hurricanes 0: Charlie Coyle scored late in the third period, and Jaroslav Halak stopped 24 shots for his second shutout of the season as Boston won its eighth straight. David Krejci also scored for the Bruins. coyotes 4, Blue Jackets 2: Darcy Kuemper stopped 33 shots and Carl Soderberg had a goal and two assists as Arizona snapped a two-game skid and moved within a point of firstplace Edmonton in the Pacific Division. flyers 6, Maple leafs 1: Claude Giroux scored the goahead goal midway through the third period and Philadelphia had three goals in the final 2:06 to get its fifth straight win. Wild 4, Panthers 2: Carson Soucy scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period to lift Minnesota.
Jets 5, stars 1: Kyle Connor had a goal and two assists as Winnipeg handed Dallas its fourth straight loss. lightning 3, Predators 2: Nikita Kucherov scored at 2:35 of overtime to win it for Tampa Bay.