Lamoriello selects Stevens, Oates for Devils' three-man coaching 'committee'
NEWARK, N.J. – In an arrangement he called "unique," New Jersey Devils General Manager Lou Lamoriello on Saturday unveiled two replacements for Peter DeBoer, whom he fired as head coach the day before. He chose two familiar faces, Scott Stevens and Adam Oates, as co-coaches, but he said neither would hold a title. Lamoriello also said he would be behind the bench for an unspecified period of time.
When asked who would have the final say over personnel decisions, Lamoriello said it would be a "joint, team effort." Stevens and Oates echoed that sentiment.
"Everything is going to be collective right now," Oates said. "It's a team effort. Scotty and Lou have said it - we're all on the same page and we have one goal, and everything will be talked out."
HIGHLIGHTS
• STEPAN NETS HAT TRICK: Derek Stepan completed a hat trick into an empty net, lifting the host New York Rangers to a 3-1 victory over the Devils. Stepan netted an unassisted shorthanded goal in the first period and a power-play tally in the second for the Rangers, who have won 12 of 14.
• MEAT IN THE MIDDLE: Host Columbus scored four times in the second period of a 6-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Scott Hartnel scored the Blue Jackets' first two goals for a 2-1 lead early in the second. Nick Foligno and Nick Connauton made it 4-1.
• SPLENDID SPLINTER: Shane Doan scored the only goal in the shootout — with a broken stick — for the host Arizona Coyotes in a 2-1 victory over the Ducks and their first back-to-back victories since Nov. 14 and 16.
• NEVER TOO LATE: The Buffalo Sabres overcame a three-goal third-period deficit before edging the New York Islanders 4-3 on Tyler Ennis' shootout goal. John Tavares scored twice and Nick Leddy added a goal for the Islanders.
