The Montreal Canadiens abruptly fired coach Michel Therrien on Tuesday and hired Claude Julien in hopes of getting their season back on track.
Montreal General Manager Marc Bergevin made the announcement two days into his team's bye week. Julien was fired as coach of the Boston Bruins last week and predictions that the veteran wouldn't be out of work for long proved true.
At 1-5-1, the Canadiens are the NHL's worst team since the start of February, including a 4-0 loss to the Bruins. They next play Saturday against Winnipeg.
Therrien was in his fifth season of his second tour of duty as Canadiens coach and had three playoff appearances with a trip to the 2014 Eastern Conference final.
"The decision to remove Michel from his coaching duties was a difficult one because I have lots of respect for him," Bergevin said in a statement. "I came to the conclusion that our team needed a new energy, a new voice, a new direction."
That will come from Julien, who returns to Montreal, where he coached from 2003-2006. He won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011.
Pittsburgh 4, Vancouver 0: Evgeni Malkin scored and picked up an assist in his return from a lower-body injury, Sidney Crosby got his 999th career point with an assist and the Penguins rolled past the visiting Canucks. Phil Kessel, Jake Guentzel and Matt Cullen also scored for the Penguins.
Winnipeg 5, Dallas 2: Rookie Patrik Laine had a hat trick — including the go-ahead goal with 5:07 left and an empty-net goal — as the Jets beat the visiting Stars. Laine has 26 goals this season.
