Despite beating the Ottawa Senators 7-3 on Thursday night, the Calgary Flames decided it was time to change their leadership behind the bench. Head coach Geoff Ward was fired after the game and replaced by veteran coach Darryl Sutter. The Flames were 11-11-2 under Ward this season after he led them to a 24-15-3 record and a playoff berth in 42 games last season. Calgary was floundering a bit and in fifth place in the North Division.
Flames fans are familiar with Sutter who coached the team from 2002-06. During his stint as the head coach the Flames appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals and were a disputed goal away from beating the Tampa Bay Lightning (it wasn’t a goal).