Blues Change Coach but Not Their Luck

New coach, same old Blues.

Mario Lemieux made it a miserable night for the St. Louis Blues’ new regime, scoring three goals Thursday in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 4-0 victory at St. Louis.

The Blues fired general manager/coach Mike Keenan and team president Jack Quinn earlier in the day. The moves had no initial effect as the Blues, under interim coach Jimmy Roberts, lost their fourth straight overall and franchise-record sixth in a row at home.

Jaromir Jagr assisted on all four Penguins goals, helping Lemieux get his 26th hat trick. Lemieux also had an assist.

Brett Hull, who had feuded with Keenan virtually since he arrived in 1994, didn’t benefit immediately from the change. He was held to five shots, extended his goal-scoring slump to five games, and was on the ice for the Penguins’ first three goals.

Ottawa 5, Florida 2--Alexei Yashin capped a four-goal burst in a 10-minute span of the second period to help the Senators beat the Panthers at Kanata, Ontario.

Florida scored on its first shot, by Radek Dvorak at 1:52.

But Ottawa rallied in the second period. After a goal by Bruce Gardiner, Daniel Alfredsson scored on a power play.

Dave Hannan followed with a short-handed breakaway and Yashin added his 13th goal.

Florida’s Johan Garpenlov scored in the third period before Ottawa’s Denny Lambert added an empty-net goal.

Philadelphia 5, New York 0--Newly acquired Paul Coffey paid immediate dividends for the Flyers, getting three assists in his first game as the Flyers extended their undefeated streak to nine in the game at Philadelphia.

Garth Snow, who made 24 saves, recorded his second shutout in six days.

Eric Lindros got two goals for the Flyers, and rookie defenseman Janne Niinimaa got his first NHL goal for Philadelphia.

Boston 3, Tampa Bay 0--Bill Ranford recorded his 14th shutout in the victory at Boston.

Boston had been 0-4-1 in its last five home games.

Troy Mallette scored a goal and added an assist.