The Philadelphia Flyers are off to a bad start just one year after failing to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2006-07 season, and as a result they've opted to fire head coach Peter Laviolette. The Philadelphia Daily News reports that an official announcement by the team is set for 11:00 a.m. Monday.
Flyers have fired Peter Laviolette, per a source. Replacing him with Craig Berube. Press conference at 11am.
— Frank Seravalli (@DNFlyers) October 7, 2013
The Flyers have been outscored 9-3 in the three losing contests to start the season and have yet to score an even strength goal. After opening up the 2013-14 campaign with a 3-1 loss at home to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia fell to Montreal 4-1 and then Carolina 2-1 on the road Sunday. Following Sunday's loss, reports circulated that Laviolette was on the hot seat and that he could be fired any day now.
That day has arrived, and according to the Philadelphia Daily News, Craig Berube is set to replace Laviolette and take the reins to the team as it looks to turn things around. It is uncertain whether or not Berube will be an interim coach or permanent coach moving forward. Philadelphia next battles with the Florida Panthers at home on Tuesday, which is slated to be Berube's debut with the team behind the bench as the head coach.
Laviolette, who was entering his fifth year as head coach of the team, has been the man behind the bench for the Flyers since the 2009-10 season, and compiled a 145-98-29 record with Philadelphia prior to his release.
Laviolette brought the team to within two wins of the Stanley Cup before it lost the series in Game 6 to the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2009-10 season, but the team steadily declined every year since. After winning the Eastern Conference championship in that season, the team then fell in the Eastern Conference semifinals the following two years and then didn't reach the playoffs at all last season.
In the 2013 48-game lockout-shortened season, the Flyers finished with a subpar 23-22-3 record, and fell to 10th place in the Eastern Conference, six points out of a playoff spot.
Laviolette is just the first casualty as CBS Sports reports that general manager Paul Holmgren could be next on the chopping block if things in Philadelphia don't improve quickly.
The Flyers, aligned in the new Metropolitan Division, are in eighth place out of eight teams.
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