The underachieving Tampa Bay Lightning have sent head coach Guy Boucher packing, despite leading the Lightning to the Eastern Conference Finals just two seasons ago.

Tampa Bay entered the season with playoff aspirations and one of the league's most electric talents in center Steven Stamkos, but have stumbled to a 13-17-1 record, placing them next to last in the Eastern Conference, ahead of only the Florida Panthers. He was fired after a 5-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators, in which the Lightning fell behind by four goals in the first period of play.

In a statement, Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said ''Guy has poured his heart and soul into the Lightning organization for these past three years and we appreciate all the work he has done. But ultimately I am not satisfied with the direction we are heading and I believe making a change today is in the best interest of our franchise.''

The Lightning have dealt with a number of injuries throughout this lockout-shortened season. Goalie Anders Lindback, defensemen Sami Salo and Matt Carle, and center Vincent Lecavlier have all missed significant time during the 2013 campaign.

Boucher was the league's youngest coach at 38 years old. He was hired three years ago by Yzerman despite having just one year of professional coaching experience in the American Hockey League, where led the Hamilton Bulldogs to the AHL's second-best record.

When his age and relative inexperience was questioned Yzerman dismissed those concerns, saying he'd adapted to the players and pressure at every level he had previously coached.

Assistant coaches Martin Raymond and Dan Lacroix will coach in Boucher's stead Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets. Neither Raymond nor Lacroix have any NHL head coaching experience. Boucher, Raymond and Lacroix had been together since the 2009-2010 season with Hamilton.

The Lightning are five points behind the eighth-place Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference standings.

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