Devils Fire Ftorek Despite Top Record

With a late-season slump fueling fears of yet another playoff disaster, the New Jersey Devils on Thursday fired Coach Robbie Ftorek, who led the team to the best record in the Eastern Conference with eight games left in the season.

Assistant Larry Robinson was given the job of turning things around before the playoffs.

The Devils have lost 10 of 16 games.

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The already strained relationship between Eric Lindros and the Philadelphia Flyers worsened after the captain blasted the club for its handling of his latest concussion.

Meeting with reporters for the first time since suffering his fourth concussion of the season, Lindros described dealings with team officials as “really frustrating.”

“There is a lot of stress,” he said. “It shouldn’t be like this. Hockey should be strap on the skates and go out and play. You get hurt, you heal, get back and play. All of a sudden this stuff is really frustrating. I haven’t said anything in the past, but I have boiled over. I am really unhappy with what goes on here.”