Los Angeles Kings fire Todd McLellan, name Jim Hiller the interim coach for the rest of the season

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Kings fired coach Todd McLellan on Friday and named Jim Hiller the interim coach for the rest of the season.

“We want to thank Todd for his hard work and dedication to the organization,” vice president and general manager Rob Blake said in a statement. “He has done a tremendous job in moving us forward and making a positive impact on our group and in our community. This was not an easy decision, but we felt the change was necessary at this time. Jim is a well-respected member of our staff who is familiar with our players. We are confident in his ability to lead our team effectively during this pivotal time.”

Los Angeles went into the All-Star break with the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference, but it is only four points ahead from falling out of a playoff spot.

The Kings had a 20-7-4 start to the season, with the 44 points tied for the most in team history after 31 games. Since Dec. 28, they have gone 3-8-6. The three wins are tied for fewest in the league since that span and the 12 points are tied for the fifth worst.