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Falling Panthers fire head coach Kevin Dineen

Kevin Dineen

Just a couple of days ago, Panthers general manager Dale Tallon held a late-night meeting following Florida’s 4-3 overtime loss to Edmonton and decided that head coach Kevin Dineen wouldn’t be fired -- yet.

One bad loss later and Dineen has been shown the door along with assistants Craig Ramsay and Gord Murphy, according to the Miami Herald and NHL.com.

“After 16 games it was clear that our team needed a change in philosophy and direction,” said Tallon.

“We have not met the expectations that we set forth at training camp and it is my responsibility to make the necessary changes to ensure that our club performs at its maximum potential.”

Peter Horachek is coming up from the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage to serve as the interim head coach. He previously worked with the Nashville Predators as an assistant and then associate head coach. It’s worth adding that the Rampage are currently the second-worst team in the AHL Western Conference with a 4-6-1 record.

Dineen spent parts of three seasons with Florida and had a 56-62-28 record. The Panthers finished 30th in the NHL last season, but added some veterans to the mix for the 2013-14 campaign, including forwards Scott Gomez and Brad Boyes and goaltender Tim Thomas. At the same time, they have a young and still-developing core.

Following the Panthers’ 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins last night, there was a players only meeting that involved a lot of “yelling and cursing.” That underscores the frustration this team is experiencing after going seven straight games without a win.

The 3-9-4 Panthers will attempt to end that streak on Saturday against Ottawa.

Not suggesting anything is imminent, but saying Tallon has tried mighty hard to find a trade fit over last couple of weeks

— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) November 8, 2013

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