Montreal Acts Quickly

The Montreal Canadiens, who have lost all four of their games this season, fired coach Jacques Demers and general manager Serge Savard.

Assistant general manager Andre Boudrias also was dismissed in the housecleaning.

“This is the most difficult news conference that I’ve had since I’ve been here,” Canadiens president Ronald Corey said.

The Canadiens, who missed the Stanley Cup playoffs last season for the first time in 25 years, have scored just four goals - the league’s lowest output - since opening the 1995-96 season.

No immediate replacements were announced, but Corey said he had candidates in mind.

The Chicago Blackhawks acquired defenseman Igor Ulanov from the Washington Capitals for a 1996 third-round draft choice.

Tie Domi of the Toronto Maple Leafs was suspended for eight games and fined $1,000 by the NHL for punching Ulf Samuelsson in the face, a blow that left the New York Rangers defenseman with a concussion.