Dave King, his team eliminated in the first round of the National Hockey League playoffs for the third straight year, was fired as coach of the Calgary Flames.

King’s contract expired Wednesday and his ouster was announced by general manager Doug Risebrough.

In King’s three consecutive playoff failures, the Flames lost each time to a team with fewer points. This year, San Jose defeated the Flames.

“You’re not solely responsible, but a great deal of the responsibility has to lay with me,” King said. “The buck is going to stop at your door.”

King denied being made a scapegoat for a team that hasn’t won a playoff series since its 1989 Stanley Cup title.

“I have no ax to grind with anybody,” he said. “This is part of the territory.”

Risebrough said he would like to have a new coach by the July 8 NHL draft. Possible candidates include Pierre Page, former coach and general manager of the Quebec Nordiques, and Brian Sutter, recently fired as coach of the Bruins.

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