Loss To The Senators The Final Straw – Tampa Bay Lightning Fires Coach Guy Boucher

He went from the darling of the coaching world three seasons ago to the 2nd coach fired this season, as Guy Boucher joins Lindy Ruff in the line for the next available coaching vacancy.

March 4, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Guy Boucher (center) talks to his team on the bench against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

It just goes to show what goaltending (or more like it lack thereof) can do to a coach.  Tampa has a top 5 offense, but the lack of adequate goaltending, or a defensive system to cover up for that shortfall, is what cost Guy Boucher his job.

Steve Yzerman canned Boucher and will no doubt replace him with Jon Cooper, head coach of the Lightning’s  AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.

In yesterday’s matchup with the Senators, the Lightning looked listless for 50 minutes before counting 3 late goals to make it interesting.  The team looked like it had quit on their coach and Yzerman really had no choice but to give Boucher the pink slip.