ANAHEIM, Calif. Paul Martin Sharks Jersey . -- The Anaheim Ducks fired coach Randy Carlyle late Wednesday night and hired former Washington coach Bruce Boudreau, who was dismissed by the Capitals just two days earlier. The Ducks made the abrupt move after beating Montreal 4-1 on Wednesday night for the clubs third victory in 19 games, snapping a seven-game skid. Carlyle coached the Ducks to their only Stanley Cup title in 2007, but struggled to get his talented clubs attention this season. Carlyle agreed to a three-year contract extension through the 2013-14 season in August, but Anaheim got off to a perplexing 7-13-4 start. "Randy is a terrific head coach, and did a tremendous job for us for six-plus seasons," Anaheim general manager Bob Murray said. "We thank him greatly for his hard work and dedication to our franchise, not the least of which was a Stanley Cup championship. At this time, we simply felt a new voice was needed. Bruce is a proven winner with a great track record, and we are optimistic we can turn this season around under his leadership." Carlyle is the fourth NHL coach to be fired in the young season, and the third this week. Paul Maurice was also dismissed on Monday by the Carolina Hurricanes. Davis Payne was let go by the St. Louis Blues on Nov. 6. Anaheim cleaned house Wednesday, also firing assistant coaches Dave Farrish and Mike Foligno and video co-ordinator Joe Trotta. The Ducks hired Brad Lauer as an assistant coach to Boudreau, and will add another assistant soon. Boudreau will run the Ducks practice on Thursday before his formal introduction. Anaheim hosts Philadelphia on Friday night. Carlyle has the most coaching wins in Ducks history, and he was behind Anaheims bench for many of the 1993 expansion franchises biggest moments. He has coached the Ducks since August 2005, taking over for Mike Babcock and compiling a 273-182-6 record as the seventh head coach in club history. Carlyle led Anaheim to the post-season in five of his first six seasons, winning more playoff games during that stretch than any coach except Babcock in Detroit. But Anaheim won just one playoff round in the past four seasons since winning the Cup, losing to fifth-seeded Nashville in the first round last season. Boudreau took a new job less than 72 hours after getting fired from a remarkably similar situation in Washington, which dropped him Monday after the Capitals slow start with a talented roster thats had little recent playoff success. Boudreau led Washington to four consecutive division titles and one Presidents Trophy while winning 201 games in just four years on the job, but the Caps lack of playoff success doomed him when they slumped following a 7-0 start to this season. He never got past the second round. The Ducks will be in for a major change in styles from the sometimes-crusty Carlyle to the personable Boudreau, nicknamed "Gabby" for his garrulous style. Timo Meier Jersey .Ferstl, whose sole career top-10 finish came two seasons ago by placing ninth in a downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, was the first starter following a half-hour break for course maintenance after 30 skiers completed their run. Paul Martin Jersey . Back atop the NL West and with Chase Field buzzing again for the first time in years, the Diamondbacks are soaring in the desert air, enjoying every moment of their massive turnaround.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- LeGarrette Blount made one last big splash into a soggy end zone. The powerful back finished his 35-yard touchdown run up the left sideline by flopping with outstretched arms and capping the New England Patriots 34-20 win over the Buffalo Bills in a steady downpour Sunday. The victory gave the Patriots a first-round bye and the Gillette Stadium field an extra week to dry out. "He carried the team on his back most of the day," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. The rain "got worse as the game went along. It was definitely a running game." Blount rushed for a career-high 189 yards, returned two kickoffs for 145 and set a club record with 334 all-purpose yards. The Patriots (12-4) obtained Blount in an off-season trade with Tampa Bay and he shared playing time with other backs since then. On Sunday, the 250-pounder led the charge. He also scored on a 36-yard run and set up a touchdown and field goal with kickoff returns of 83 and 62 yards. The extra point after his 35-yarder put the Patriots ahead 34-20 with 2:31 left. "Every time I play I try my best to come out with the mindset to make a contribution to any part of the game, whether its kick returns or running the ball or catching it," Blount said. After his second touchdown, he hugged Belichick, who had a towel draped over his shoulders. Tom Brady was content to hand the ball off rather than throw through rain drops against a team leading the NFL in sacks and second in interceptions. "The water on the field at the end, it was just puddles," he said. Stephen Gostkowski kicked four field goals as the Patriots earned their eighth bye in Belichicks 14 seasons. The Bills (6-10) missed the playoffs for the 14th straight year, the leagues longest current streak. They won their previous two games. "It would be much different if we were ending on a three-game winning streak," Bills coach Doug Marrone said. "To say that youre close or anything like that, until you win we dont have a leg to stand on." New England won its 13th straight home game against Buffalo, including 12-0 since Gillette opened in 2002. The Patriots have the second seed and play in two weeks at home, where theyre 8-0. Denver, which beat Oakland, has the top seed. New England began its game with a chance to finish iin any of the AFCs top four playoff spots. Timo Meier Sharks Jersey. "We put together a great season, but it doesnt matter much now," Brady said. The Bills played without quarterback EJ Manuel, who has a small tear in a left knee ligament, and wide receiver Stevie Johnson, excused for the second straight game after his mothers death. Backup Thad Lewis threw a 12-yard scoring pass to T.J. Graham late in the third quarter and led an 80-yard drive capped by Fred Jacksons 5-yard run with 10:20 remaining. After each of those touchdowns Blount had his long kickoff returns. His 83-yarder set up Bradys 5-yard scoring pass to Shane Vereen, followed by a 2-point conversion pass that made it 24-10. The 62-yarder led to Gostkowskis fourth field goal, a 35-yarder that put the Patriots ahead 27-17. The Bills turned over the ball on downs on their next possession. "Of course the ball is wet," Buffalo wide receiver Robert Woods said, "but we still have to make plays and catch the ball." Before the Patriots ran the next play, "Singin in the Rain" blared over the public address system, and drenched fans sang along. Then Manny Lawson intercepted Bradys pass and the Bills capitalized with Dan Carpenters 37-yard field goal. Buffalo tried an onside kick, but Nate Ebner recovered for New England. Blount then ran 10 yards before scoring his second touchdown on the next play. The game even featured a punt by Brady on third-and-32 from his 46-yard line midway through the third quarter with the score 16-3. It travelled 32 yards, where Jim Leonhard made a fair catch. "It could have been a lot better," Brady said. Brady finished 14 of 24 for 122 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Lewis went 16 for 29 for 247 yards and a touchdown. C.J. Spiller led the Bills with 105 yards rushing. NOTES: Bills tackle Marcell Dareus was benched for the first half for violating a team rule. In Buffalos previous game he was benched for the first quarter, also for violating a team rule. ... The previous Patriots record for all-purpose yards was 273 by Larry Garron in 1962 at Buffalo. ... 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