Slumping NJ Devils fire coach Pete DeBoer

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- The New Jersey Devils have fired coach Pete DeBoer, with the team in danger of missing the playoffs for a third straight season.

Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello confirmed the move Friday. He would not say who will take over the aging team until he speaks on Saturday with the players, who are on a three-day Christmas break.

The Devils play the Rangers in New York on Saturday.

New Jersey is 12-17-7 in an injury-plagued season. It has not won consecutive games since early last month, going 4-12-4 in its last 16.

The 46-year-old DeBoer was hired in 2011-12 and immediately took the Devils to the Stanley Cup finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Kings.

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