Devils GM Fitzgerald says Lindy Ruff was fired because of team’s struggles

NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald ripped his underperforming team and himself for causing the firing of Lindy Ruff less than a year after the veteran coach led the franchise to its best regular-season record. Speaking less than a day after relieving Ruff of his coaching duties, Fitzgerald said Tuesday he waited as long as possible for the team to turn things around but eventually fired his good friend after seeing the young team lose five of its last seven games and fall further behind in the race for a wild-card playoff berth. Rookie Simon Nemec, who has been in the lineup every game since Dec. 1, and veteran forward Ondrej Palat were not in the starting lineup, “My job is to help make them play the best hockey that they possibly can,” said Green, who said he spoke with Nemec after practice. “I believe we’re a very good offensive team, we’re generating chances,” Fitzgerald said.