Flyers shake it up: Clarke, Hitchcock out

Bob Clarke was burnt out. Ken Hitchcock was tuned out.

Now both are out of jobs, part of a dramatic Broad Street breakup Sunday designed to jolt the NHL-worst Philadelphia Flyers out of the cellar and end their worst start in 17 years.

Clarke resigned in his second stint as general manager, unable to match the Stanley Cups he won with the team as a Hall of Fame center in the 1970s. Hitchcock was fired more than a month after signing an extension, but with the Flyers 1-6-1 and with the fewest points in the NHL.

Assistant John Stevens was appointed head coach and former Flyers coach Paul Holmgren was promoted from assistant general manager to interim general manager – the latest combination in an attempt to end a 31-year Stanley Cup drought.

Stevens, a former Flyer who coached the team’s AHL affiliate, will be behind the bench when the Flyers play at home Thursday against Atlanta. He led the Phantoms to the Calder Cup championship in 2005 with many of the players now on the roster.

“We’re very confident we can turn this thing around,” Stevens said.

Even with Stanley Cup championships elsewhere on their resumes, Clarke and Hitchcock never found the right mix together to bring a title to Philadelphia.

Penguins lose Malone to injury

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ryan Malone is expected to be out four to six weeks after breaking his forearm Saturday night during the team’s 5-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

In July, the Pittsburgh native was awarded a two-year, $2.75 million contract by an arbitrator. He had 22 goals and 44 points in 77 games with the Penguins last season, when he earned less than $1 million.

Malone represented the United States at this year’s world hockey championships. He ranked second on the team in scoring and was selected as one of the top three U.S. players at the event.

Ducks 3, Kings 2 (SO): At Los Angeles, Ryan Getzlaf faked backup goalie Mathieu Garon and scored the winning goal in the fifth round of a shootout, helping the streaking Anaheim Ducks beat the rival Los Angeles Kings.

Getzlaf skated slowly toward Garon and faked to the right before pausing and going left, catching Garon sprawled flat on the ice for the Ducks, who won their third straight and are off to the best start in franchise history.

Alexander Frolov struck first for the Kings in the shootout, beating Jean-Sebastien Giguere through his pads.

Teemu Selanne answered for Anaheim, going top shelf on Garon’s left side before Getzlaf settled things in the fifth round.

Giguere earned his fifth victory, stopping 29 shots in regulation and the five-minute overtime.