On this day in 1985, the Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Black Hawks combined for a goals fest that the NHL hasn't seen since. Craig Berube [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAyODcyNzYzNTgzNTcwOTU2/usatsi_20169319.jpg] Craig Berube The St. Louis Blues announced a big decision Tuesday night, choosing to relieve coach Craig Berube of his duties. Drew Bannister, coach of the Blues' AHL affiliate in Springfield, becomes the interim head coach. The team announced he'll travel to St. Louis on Wednesday and make his NHL head coaching debut on Thursday at home against the Ottawa Senators. The Blues currently rank sixth of eight teams in the NHL's Central Division with a 13-14-1 record and 27 points. They sit just one point out of a playoff spot but lost their last four straight games and seven of their past 10, including Tuesday night's 6-4 loss to the Detroit Red Wings at home. Berube, 57, was the Blues' head coach since Nov. 20, 2018. The Blues ranked 30th in the NHL when he was promoted from associate coach, and he helped the team to one of the most memorable mid-season turnarounds in NHL history [https://thehockeynews.com/news/five-of-the-nhls-most-memorable-mid-season-turnarounds]. They finished the regular season ranked 12th in the NHL and third in the Central Division. The Blues then knocked off the Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks in the span of 19 games before edging out the Boston Bruins in seven contests to capture the Stanley Cup. Since that Cup championship, the Blues won one round in 2022 against the Minnesota Wild. Last season, they finished sixth in the Central and snapped a four-year playoff streak – it was just the second time since 2011-12 they missed the post-season. St. Louis traded away some of its veterans, including Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O'Reilly. During Berube's tenure as head coach of the Blues, he amassed a 206-131-44 record across parts of six seasons. It was the second head coaching role for the former NHL player from Calahoo, Alta., having coached 161 games across two seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2013 to 2015. Overall, Berube has a 281-189-72 regular-season record, along with a 27-30-1 record in the playoffs. In comes Bannister, a former NHL defenseman who played 164 games across six seasons for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks and New York Rangers. He spent the past three seasons as coach of the Thunderbirds, making it to the Calder Cup final in 2021-22 before losing in five games to the Chicago Wolves. This season, the Thunderbirds rank 11th in the AHL and fourth in the Atlantic Division with a 12-8-2-0 record. The Blues play their next two games at home against the Senators and Dallas Stars before heading out to Florida to face the Lightning and Panthers. They then face the Chicago Blackhawks at home on Dec. 23 before the holiday break. For more coverage on the coaching change, check out The Hockey News' St. Louis Blues site at THN.com/stlouis [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/st-louis-blues/latest-news/breaking-blues-fire-craig-berube-name-drew-bannister-interim-coach].
