Ted Sator, who coached Buffalo to a...

Ted Sator, who coached Buffalo to a pair of third-place finishes but was unable to get the Sabres past the first round of the National Hockey League playoffs, was fired.

“It is regrettable that this development became necessary,” Sabre General Manager Gerry Meehan said.

Sator, who succeeded Craig Ramsay as coach in December, 1986, had a 96-89-22 record with the Sabres, which became the eighth NHL team to change coaches since the end of the regular season.