Thrashers Dismiss Fraser as Their Coach

Curt Fraser was fired Thursday as coach of the Atlanta Thrashers, who have the worst record in the NHL. He has been the only coach in the team’s 3 1/2-year history.

General Manager Don Waddell will be the interim head coach when the Thrashers play at Carolina today. Waddell’s only previous coaching experience was in the minor leagues a decade ago.

“I think we all have to be held accountable,” Waddell said at a news conference. “I’ll tell the players today when we meet that they got a good guy, a good person, fired.”

Fraser is the fourth NHL coach to be dismissed since the start of the season, following Darryl Sutter (San Jose), Greg Gilbert (Calgary) and Bob Hartley (Colorado).

Waddell said he made his decision Tuesday, a day after Atlanta lost, 5-1, to Toronto.

“Talking with Curt ... he was devastated after that loss,” Waddell said. “This is probably the toughest business decision I’ve ever made.”

*

Nashville 3, Dallas 1 -- The Predators scored two goals in 30 seconds in the third period at Nashville to hold off the Stars, who had Mike Modano back in the lineup after he sat out three games because of a concussion.

Pittsburgh 6, New York Rangers 1 -- Mario Lemieux, the NHL’s scoring leader, had a goal and two assists night to lead the Penguins over the Rangers at New York. In two victories this season, the Penguins have outscored the Rangers, 12-1.

Detroit 4, Columbus 2 -- Tomas Holmstrom had his first two-goal game since March 2001 to lead the Red Wings over the Blue Jackets at Detroit. The defending Stanley Cup champions have lost only once in the last 12 games (8-1-3).

Vancouver 4, Edmonton 2 -- Brendan Morrison and Todd Bertuzzi had a goal and an assist each at Edmonton, Canada, as the Canucks beat the Oilers for the third time in less than two weeks.

St. Louis 3, Colorado 2 -- Pavol Demitra had two goals and an assist at St. Louis and Scott Mellanby scored the go-ahead goal when the puck popped up in the air and dropped over Patrick Roy’s outstretched glove.

Minnesota 2, Chicago 2 -- Theo Fleury stuffed in a rebound of Alex Zhamnov’s shot from the slot after Dwayne Roloson made a pad save at 3:06 of the third period to give the Blackhawks a tie with the Wild at Chicago.

Ottawa 3, Buffalo 2 -- Daniel Alfredsson scored the tiebreaking goal in the second period and had two assists to lift the Senators at Buffalo, N.Y.