Blues fire coach Craig Berube after 4th straight loss

Field Level Media|published: Wed 13th December, 02:08 2023

Nov 16, 2023; San Jose, California, USA; St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube watches the game from the bench against the San Jose Sharks during the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. credits: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports

The St. Louis Blues, after losing their fourth consecutive game Tuesday night, fired coach Craig Berube.

At 13-14-1, good for 27 points, the Blues are just one point out of a playoff position in the Western Conference. However, they are trending in the wrong direction. Following an 8-5-1 start through Nov. 14, they are 5-9-0.

The latest stumble prompted the club to ax Berube, who led the team to the 2019 Stanley Cup championship after taking over as interim coach early in that season.

On Tuesday in Detroit, the Blues blew three separate leads against the Red Wings and wound up falling 6-4.

Drew Bannister will take over as interim head coach, moving from his role as head coach of the Blues' Springfield (Mass.) affiliate in the American Hockey League.

The Blues announced that Bannister would join the team in St. Louis on Wednesday ahead of guiding the club for the first time on Thursday in a home game against the Ottawa Senators.

Berube, 57, had a 206-132-44 regular-season record as the Blues' head coach, plus a 24-27 mark in the postseason. The 206 wins are third in franchise history behind Joel Quinneville (307) and Ken Hitchcock (248).

Berube previously was coach of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2013-14 and part of 2014-15, logging a 75-58-28 regular-season mark and a 3-4 playoff record.

Bannister, 49, led Springfield to the 2022 Calder Cup final. He had a 93-58-19 in charge of the AHL club.

—Field Level Media

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