Gerard Gallant was a coach of the year finalist last season after guiding the Florida Panthers to a division title and the best regular season in franchise history.He made it through 22 games this season, but then the Panthers decided a change was needed.The Panthers fired Gallant on Sunday night after Floridas 3-2 loss at Carolina, which dropped the Panthers to 11-10-1 this season, good for only 10th in the Eastern Conference.Tom Rowe will essentially take a hiatus from being general manager to fill the coaching spot for the rest of the year, starting with Tuesdays game in Chicago.We wanted to develop a team and build a team that was fast, could move the puck quickly, pressure the puck in all three zones, Rowe said. Gerard and I talked about it. He said he wanted a little bit more size, and we just decided to go in a different direction. Were we on the same page every day of the week? No ... philosophy was different.Panthers owner Vincent J. Viola released a statement Monday saying, In seeking to earn a second consecutive playoff berth and bring a Stanley Cup to South Florida, we believe that new leadership is required immediately.Matthew Caldwell, Panthers president and CEO, also weighed in on the decision.Weve been unhappy with the inconsistent performance. I just think we can be playing better at this stage of the season. So we decided a change is necessary to move in a different direction.??Gallant was under contract through the 2018-19 season, having signed an extension back in January.The postgame routine Sunday night turned into something most unusual.Gallant spoke as always, talking about how five poor second-period minutes out of 60 was the teams undoing against the Hurricanes. Florida wasted an early 2-0 lead. Shortly after that, he apparently was told of the dismissal, and Gallant then waited for a taxi after his luggage was unloaded from the buses that were to carry the Panthers to the airport.They went one way. He went another, and he became the first NHL coach to be fired since this season started.Florida has clearly struggled at times, though it has also been injury-ravaged. Jonathan Huberdeau has not played yet this season and isnt expected back for several more weeks;?Nick Bjugstad and Jussi Jokinen have missed significant amounts of time; and Alex Petrovic is now expected to miss up to two months with an ankle injury.Plus, Jaromir Jagr has just three goals so far this season -- after leading the Panthers in scoring last season.Rowe becomes the Panthers 14th coach, and the fifth person to be behind the Florida bench in the last five years. Florida next plays Tuesday night in Chicago, the second game of a six-game trip for the reigning Atlantic Division champions.Rowe was promoted to general manager before the season, and in recent years coached the Panthers AHL teams in San Antonio and Portland, Maine. Rowe started last season in Portland and then was brought to the Panthers as associate GM under Dale Tallon on Jan. 1.Rowe was then promoted to GM in mid-May.Gallant was 96-65-25 in two-plus seasons with the Panthers.?Sportsnet first reported the firing.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Grant Dayton Jersey . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. Bobby Cox Jersey . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. https://www.cheapbraves.com/383o-bob-uecker-jersey-braves.html . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. Josh Tomlin Jersey .C. -- Manny Malhotra had two goals and an assist, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Bryse Wilson Braves Jersey . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. 23 January 1999Sri Lanka almost storm off as Murali chucking row boils overAFPADELAIDE, Australia, Jan 23 (AFP) - The Muttiah Muralitharan chucking row boiled over at Adelaide Oval Saturday when play was held up for 12 minutes after the Sri Lankans protested umpire Ross Emersons no-ball call for throwing in the one-day international against England.Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga gestured to his players to walk off to the dressing room after Muralitharan, 26, had been called from square leg by umpire Emerson -- one of three Australian umpires who had no-balled the Sri Lankan for throwing three years ago.Players stopped on the edge of the field as heated discusions took place with Emerson, his co-umpire, Tony McQuillan, and match referee, Peter Van der Merwe, of South Africa.Sri Lankan officials phoned Colombo before the decision was made to return to the field but manager Ranjith Fernando said later there had been no question of Sri Lanka pulling out of the game and ending the match.I dont think that was in Ranatungas mind, he said. There was a situation of desperation. This sort of thing does not happen often. The game is more important than any of these things.There is outrage not only among the team, but the public at large. But relations with the Australian Cricket Board are not soured.Emerson, a former policceman from Western Australia, called Muralitharan as he sent down the fourth ball of his second over -- the 19th of the innings -- after his opening over had been uneventful.ddddddddddddAs Ranatunga argued with umpires, Muralitharans team-mates threw their arms around him, consoling the dejected player.When play resumed, Muralitharan completed the remaining two balls of his second over without further incident.Ranatunga brought him on at the other end straight away, away from the critical gaze of Emerson, now standing at the bowlers end.Ranatunga also asked Emerson to stand close to the stumps, a move designed to make it difficult for Emerson to call him.Muralitharan bowled three overs from Emersons end uneventfully.Saturdays events came three years after Muralitharan was called for throwing by Emerson, McQuillan and Darrell Hair during Sri Lankas last tour here.Hair described Muralitharans action as diabolical in a recent book which landed him in hot water with the International Cricket Council.The Council has decided Hair should be called to account for his comment. He will appear shortly before a hearing of the Australian Cricket Board.England were 173-3 in the 35th over.Source :: AFP ' ' '