Out of a playoff spot and losers of three of their last four, the Oilers have fired head coach Dave Tippett.
Associate coach Jim Playfair was also let go.
Jay Woodcroft will take over as head coach with Dave Manson serving as an assistant. Both had been with the Oilers’ American Hockey League affiliate in Bakersfield.
The move comes a week after Tippett declared following a 5-3 win over the Capitals that “we’ve got things turned around.” That was during a stretch where Edmonton had won five of six. But as has been the case with the Oilers this season, things quickly went back down hill and general manager Ken Holland is making a change after the team lost by a combined 8-1 score in their last two games to the Golden Knights and Blackhawks.
(This also marks the first time in Holland’s 25-year career as an NHL GM that he’s made an in-season coaching change.)
[NHL Power Rankings: Where things stand coming out of All-Star break]
As of Thursday, the Oilers sit fifth in the Pacific…