Tampa Bay fire coach Guy Boucher after poor Lightning run

Tampa Bay have fired coach Guy Boucher after Lightning dropped to bottom place in the Eastern Conference.

Only the Florida Panthers have a worse conference record than the Lightning (13-17-1), who started the strike-shortened season 6-1 but have lost six of their past 10 games.

And Boucher, who had been at Tampa for three years, has paid the price for their poor run.

"Guy has poured his heart and soul into the Lightning organisation for these past three years and we appreciate all the work he has done," team general manager Steve Yzerman said.

"But ultimately I am not satisfied with the direction we are heading and I believe making a change today is in the best interest of our franchise."

Assistant coaches Martin Raymond and Dan Lacroix have been put in temporary charge.

Boucher, 41, compiled a 97-78-20 record with the Lightning. His best finish came in his first season (2010-11) when Tampa Bay went 46-25-11 to finish second in the Southeast Division before losing to Boston in the conference finals.