BUFFALO, N.Y. -- After struggling through the first half of the NHL season, the Buffalo Sabres Friday released rookie coach Jim Schoenfeld and reinstated Scotty Bowman behind the bench.
Bowman, who became the winningest coach in NHL history last season with 718 victories, returned for the fourth time as the Sabres coach and will remain the team's director of hockey operations and general manager.
The coaching change came as a surprise to the team, which beat Montreal 5-4 in overtime Friday night in Bowman's first game back to improve its record to 20-19-5 -- good for a fourth-place tie in the Adams Division with the Hartford Whalers.
Sabre center Gates Orlando, who was recalled Friday from the Sabres Rochester farm team in the American Hockey League and scored twice against the Canadiens,also was coached by Schoenfeld last year in Rochester and summed up his regrets.
'He sort of brought me along and showed me a lot,' Orlando said. 'We didn't expect something as drastic as that. I was very surprised. I feel bad, but the game goes on.'
Schoenfeld, who was named head coach last June with no previous NHL coaching experience, guided Rochester to a 17-6-2 record last season before returning to play with the Sabres.
'I think we all feel a great deal of regret over what happened with Schoney,' said goaltender Tom Barrasso. 'I'm sure he deserved a better fate from us in the dressing room and our performance on the ice, but we've got to go on now. It's crucial to put pucks in the net and points on the board.'
Schoenfeld, a former Sabres defenseman who also played with Boston and Detroit, said in a radio report he would not stay with the organization, and gave no indication of future plans.
Bowman would not criticize Schoenfeld, but did place some of the blame for the Sabres poor performance this season on the players.
'I don't think the team is in complete disarray,' he said. 'I think the players have to look at themselves. I'd say it's a lack of performance by a lot of players.'
'When you struggle you lose confidence,' said Bowman, who had stepped down as Sabres' coach at the end of last season when the club finished with a 38-28-14 record. 'The players are pressing, they need confidence.'
'The team had a tough first half, but it seems we have to attune the players. We're in a much tougher race than before.'
The Sabres, with Bowman behind the bench, were eliminated in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Quebec Nordiques last year.
Bowman, who coached Montreal to five Stanley Cup titles, including four straight from 1976 through 1979, said Scheonfeld was 'very disappointed' when told of the coaching change.
Bowman joined the Sabres as coach-GM in 1979, and coached the team on-and-off until after last season. He now has a 190-109-57 record as the Sabres bench boss.
'I didn't miss the coaching,' Bowman admitted. 'This time around, because of the situation, I'm going to put all the time into the coaching.'
'It's a big surprise,' said defenseman-center Phil Housley. 'I know a lot of guys are going to miss him. It's a tough business. It's a dreary change, but as hockey players, just play the game and forget about it.'
