Ducks Fire Head Coach Bruce Boudreau After First-Round Playoff Exit

The Anaheim Ducks’ quest for a Stanley Cup title came to an end Wednesday night, and two days later, so did their coach’s tenure with the team.

Anaheim on Friday fired head coach Bruce Boudreau, who had been with the Ducks since 2011.

“I would like to thank Bruce for his hard work and dedication to the franchise,” Ducks executive vice president/general manager Brian Murray said in a statement. “This was a very difficult decision to make. Bruce is a good coach and character person, and we wish him the best of luck in the future.”

Boudreau, who took over as Ducks head coach midway through the 2011-12 campaign, led the team to a Pacific Division title in each of his four full seasons behind the bench. Each of those seasons ended in heartbreaking fashion, however, as Anaheim became the first team in NHL history to lose four consecutive Game 7s on home ice and twice failed to advance out of the first round.

The Ducks held a three games-to-two lead in each of those four series, including this postseason’s opening-round loss to the Nashville Predators.

Under Boudreau this season, Anaheim allowed the fewest goals in the NHL while also boasting the league’s best power-play and penalty-killing units.

Thumbnail photo via Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports Images