Pittsburgh Penguins fire coach Mike Johnston

And on Saturday morning, time ran out on Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Johnston as the team announced through a team-issued release that Johnston and assistant coach Gary Agnew were relieved of their duties effective immediately.

Tocchet has been an assistant coach with the Penguins since 2014, and Martin served in a newly created role of special assistant to the head coach this season.

General manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement the Penguins and their star-filled roster that includes former MVPs Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have underachieved. Sullivan does have National Hockey League experience; he last coached for the Boston Bruins. Longtime NHL coach Jacques Martin was promoted to assistant coach, joining Rick Tocchet. “Our expectations are much higher with this group of players”. “He’s ready to step in”.

Through their first 28 games this season the Penguins are 15-10-3 and are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. But as injuries started to mount, particularly on their defense, the offense hit a wall and the team needed a win on the last day of the regular season just to secure a spot in the playoffs. A center who specialized in killing penalties, he produced 54 goals and 136 points in 709 games.

Johnston, who replaced Dan Bylsma after the 2013-14 season, was 58-37-15 in his season-plus behind the Penguins’ bench, including a 3-2 shootout loss to Los Angeles Friday night. The Penguins were eliminated by the New York Rangers in a five-game series in the first round.

Assistant coach Gary Agnew was also relieved of his duties as part of the overhaul. “They are good hockey men, and we wish them all the best”.