Lou Lamoriello to help coach Devils

— -- Adam Oates and Scott Stevens will both be behind the bench to coach the New Jersey Devils, with general manager Lou Lamoriello on the bench as well, at least during the short-term, to oversee the effort, the team announced Saturday morning.

Lamoriello announced the "unique" scenario at a news conference with reporters. Coach Pete DeBoer was fired Friday.

The Devils (12-17-7) have lost seven of their past eight games and 13 of 16 since Nov. 22.

They have the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference and are nine points out of a playoff spot.

DeBoer, 46, went 114-93-41 in 3½ seasons with the Devils. 

New Jersey made an unexpected run to the Stanley Cup finals in DeBoer's first season. The sixth-seeded Devils lost to the Los Angeles Kings in six games.

The Devils missed the playoffs the next two seasons.

ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun and Katie Strang contributed to this report.