DALLAS — Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer was fired Friday after three seasons with the team, getting to the Western Conference final each time but never advancing past that for a shot at the Stanley Cup.

General manager Jim Nill made the move less than a week since the Stars ended their season in a 6-3 loss at home to Edmonton in Game 5 of the West final.

Dallas joined the 1975-77 Islanders as the only teams in the expansion era to lose in the round before the Cup Final three straight seasons.

DeBoer took some heat for pulling goalie Jake Oettinger just 7 minutes into Game 5 against Edmonton. He had given up two goals on two shots, but he had been one of the best goaltenders in the league this season. And in the playoffs he had faced the most shots of any goalie by far.

Oettinger said he was surprised and embarrassed and DeBoer said he knew that if the move didn’t work out he’d be answering tough questions.