Calgary Cleans House

The Calgary Flames, who missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, fired General Manager Al Coates and Coach Brian Sutter on Tuesday.

Director of player personnel Nick Polano and assistant coach Rich Preston were also fired.

“It is clear that we need more supporters and better results if we are going to go to the next level,” President Ron Bremner said.

Sutter, who previously coached the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues, just completed his third season with the Flames. He was coach of the year in 1990-91 with the Blues but failed to lead a young Flame team into the playoffs.

Calgary finished last in the Northwest Division with a 31-41-10-5 record.

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Doug Gilmour, weakened by a stubborn stomach virus, might not be strong enough to play in the Buffalo Sabres’ playoff opener Thursday. . . . The New York Islanders will be sold to computer executives Charles Wang and Sanjay Kumar for a reported $175 million, with the deal to be announced Thursday. . . . The contract of Moe Mantha, coach of the Mighty Ducks’ minor league affiliate at Cincinnati, was not renewed.