Changes Don’t Change Luck for Canadiens

Michel Therrien’s first game behind the Montreal Canadien bench was no better than Alain Vigneault’s last five.

“The only thing I can say is that it’s going to be tough, but we’ll get through this,” Therrien said Tuesday night after his debut as Canadien coach ended with a 4-1 loss to the Florida Panthers at Montreal.

Therrien’s club was booed off the ice after the Canadiens lost their sixth in a row.

The Panthers’ third goal symbolized the agony of this season for the Canadiens, as Denis Shvidki sent a blind pass from behind the net that ricocheted off defenseman Patrice Brisebois and into the net behind startled goalie Jose Theodore.

The goal at 1:11 of the third period gave Florida a 3-1 lead over the Canadiens, who dropped to 5-14-2-0, worst in the NHL.

“I didn’t think this would be easy,” Therrien said. “There’s some work to do for sure.”

Pavel Bure, Serge Payer and Todd Simpson also scored for the Panthers, who are 4-8-4-3.

Martin Rucinsky scored the lone goal for the Canadiens, who have scored only six goals during their latest losing streak.

Vigneault and general manager Rejean Houle were fired Monday in a desperate attempt by President Pierre Boivin to shake his team up.

With the lack of talent on the ice, it will take more than the fiery Therrien to turn things around.

New General Manager Andre Savard will be under fire to acquire help, but it’s believed that the Canadiens’ budget is frozen until the club is sold--possibly in the next few weeks.

Vancouver 4, St. Louis 3--Todd Bertuzzi had two goals and an assist at St. Louis as the Canucks ended Brent Johnson’s seven-game winning streak.

The loss also ended the Blues’ unbeaten streak against Vancouver at 14 and gave St. Louis its first loss in 10 home games this season.

The Canucks last beat the Blues on Dec. 15, 1996.

Toronto 3, New York Rangers 1--Tie Domi, Yanic Perreault and Igor Korolev scored for the Maple Leafs at New York.

Chicago 4, Phoenix 1--Alexei Zhamnov, Stephane Quintal and Dean McAmmond scored third-period goals at Phoenix as the Blackhawks continued to make the most of a grueling trip.

Jocelyn Thibault made 23 saves, and Chicago’s penalty-killers, third-best in the NHL on the road, stopped three Phoenix power plays as the Blackhawks improved to 2-1-2 on the eight-game trip.

Ottawa 2, Boston 1--Daniel Alfredsson capped a wild final minute by scoring the winner with 13.8 seconds to play at Kanata, Canada.

Alfredsson jammed Alexei Yashin’s rebound between the pads of goalie Byron Dafoe at 19:46, only 12 seconds after Bill Guerin silenced the sellout Corel Centre crowd with his first goal as a Bruin.

Around the League

Keith Jones of the Philadelphia Flyers retired after doctors told him his left knee can no longer stand up to the demands of the NHL. The 32-year-old forward has played in eight games this season with no points. . . . New York Ranger forward Eric Lacroix suffered a broken index finger on his right hand and will be sidelined at least four weeks, Ranger Coach Ron Low said.