Flyers Fire Barber

Archived from 2001-02 season.

The Philadelphia Flyers fired coach Bill Barber on Tuesday after the team lost in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight year.

The Flyers won the Atlantic Division with 97 points, but lost to the Ottawa Senators in five games scoring a record low two goals in the series.

Barber was criticized by several players, including captain Keith Primeau, who said the coaching staff wasn't open to suggestions from the players.

"We had the worst power play in the league, why are we not practicing it?" Primeau said. "The tirades on the bench. All season long we said if someone makes a mistake, they're getting yelled at."

Barber is the fifth coach the Flyers have let go since 1997.

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