Demers and Savard were criticized for the team's 18-23-7 record last season but kept their jobs because the lockout-shortened season made it difficult to put the Canadiens' performance in perspective.
After they lost their first four games scoring only one goal in each, however, team president Ronald Corey said on Tuesday he was "forced" to dismiss Savard, Demers and Andre Boudrias, assistant general manager.
"You might think I am pushing the panic button, but I am not," Corey said at a news conference in Montreal. "It's just that the season is so young, we need a new group to run this team for the balance of the season."
Savard had been general manager since 1983, and Demers was in his fourth season. A two-time NHL coach of the year, he led Montreal to the Stanley Cup in 1993 with a five-game victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
Assistant coach Jacques Laperriere will run practices until replacements are named. Corey said he has candidates in mind but would not identify them. The Canadiens" next game is Friday at New York against the Islanders.
Oilers 3, Devils 1. In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Bill Ranford made 38 saves and Zdeno Ciger had a goal and an assist as the winless Edmonton Oilers handed the Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils their first loss in months, 3-1 Tuesday night.
The loss prevented the Devils from tying an NHL record for most wins at the start of a season by the defending Cup champion. Ottawa started the 1920-21 season 5-0 after winning the Cup the previous year, while Edmonton did the same thing in 1985-86.
The Oilers came into the game having lost all four games this season while being outscored 24-5.
(For other results, see Scorecard.)
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