Sharks clean house, fire Deboer, three assistants

SAN JOSE — Frustrated by a lack of consistency and seeing a need for a new direction, Sharks general manager Doug Wilson cleaned house Wednesday, firing Pete Deboer and naming Bob Boughner interim coach in an effort to spark the team back into a playoff position.

Assistant coaches Steve Spott, Dave Barr and Johan Hedberg were also let go amid a rare and sweeping midseason purge by the Sharks, who are in danger of missing the playoffs for just the second time in the last 16 seasons.

The Sharks flew back to San Jose on Wednesday, a day after they lost 3-1 to the Nashville Predators to finish a four-game road trip at 0-3-1 and fall to 1516-2 on the season. The Sharks are in sixth place in the Pacific Division, five points out of a playoff spot.

“When you have had a level of past success, change is never easy, but we feel this team is capable of much more than we have shown thus far and that a new voice is needed,” Wilson said in a statement.

“As a team and as individuals, our play has not met expectations this year and our level of consistency has not been where it needs to be. This group of individuals who will lead our team moving forward are very familiar with our players, and we think this change can provide our group with a fresh start.”

The Sharks will hold a news conference with Wilson and Boughner at noon on Thursday at SAP Center. They play the New York Rangers that evening.

Boughner will be joined on the Sharks’ bench by associate Roy