Edmonton Fires Its Coach

George Burnett, the first-year coach of the Edmonton Oilers, was fired Thursday, two days after ousting Shayne Corson as team captain.

Burnett had benched the veteran in the third period of a 7-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. Corson had received a misconduct in the second period for berating the referee.

Ron Lowe, an assistant, was appointed head coach for the rest of the season. He inherits a team that is 12-20-3 and in fourth place in the Pacific Division.

General manager Glen Sather said he had been thinking about firing Burnett for a while.

“I don’t think it was quick,” Sather said from Palm Springs, Calif., after his team lost 4-3 in overtime to Anaheim on Wednesday night. “The team has been floundering and they have not responded the way I thought they should. Instead of making no decision at all, I made a decision.”

Lemieux plays game for charity

Mario Lemieux isn’t considering a return to action this season, but he was happy after a charity game last week in which he recorded two goals and an assist while playing for a celebrity team against the Pittsburgh Penguins’ alumni at Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena.

The Penguins’ alumni won 12-6.

“It felt great to be on the ice again,” Lemieux said. “My decision to come back will be a health decision alone. If I’m not healthy enough to play between 65 and 70 games next season at the talent level I’m accustomed to, I will not play.”

Wakaluk breaks hand

First, Dallas Stars goaltender Darcy Wakaluk let in a soft goal by Detroit’s Bob Errey and was pulled by Dallas Coach Bob Gainey.

Then Wakaluk, a former Spokane Chief, went into the locker room and punched the wall, breaking his right hand.

How bad are they?

How bad are the Ottawa Senators? Their 4-23-4 record is on pace to become the worst mark in a 48-game schedule.

The NHL played 48-game schedules from 1931-32 through ‘41-42. During those seasons, the New York Americans set the record for fewest victories with eight in 1940-41.