Briefs | NHL: Carolina fires Peter Laviolette, brings back Paul Maurice

NHL

Hurricanes fire coach who won Stanley Cup: Peter Laviolette, who coached the Carolina Hurricanes to the 2006 Stanley Cup, was fired Wednesday. Former Canes coach Paul Maurice was hired to replace him, and assistant general manager Ron Francis will be associate coach.

When Laviolette, the NHL's winningest American-born coach, was hired in December 2003, he replaced Maurice.

The Hurricanes, 12-11-2 and second in the Southeast Division, face the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at home. The Canes, who missed the playoffs the past two seasons, have lost four of the past five games, including the past three at home.

The Canes are struggling to score goals. They rank 29th in the NHL on the power play after going 0 for 25 the past six games.

Maurice, 41, coached the Canes to the 2002 Stanley Cup Final. With 268 victories, he has the most wins in franchise history.

Sakic out at least six weeks: Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic, 39, will be sidelined at least six weeks while receiving treatment for a herniated disk. The center's back has bothered him all season and he hasn't played since hurting it again during his first shift in a game at Phoenix on Friday.

Avery apologizes for comments: Dallas Stars instigator Sean Avery apologized for comments about his former girlfriends that led to an indefinite NHL suspension. Commissioner Gary Bettman has summoned Avery to New York for a hearing today.

Flyers' Briere out a month: Philadelphia Flyers center Danny Briere will be sidelined four to five weeks with a severe groin strain.

Man falls from upper deck in Ottawa: A man fell about 25 feet from the upper deck of Scotiabank Place in Ottawa during the second intermission of a game between the Senators and the Atlanta Thrashers. The man was conscious and received medical attention from paramedics.

Golf

Wie opens with a 69: Michelle Wie took an important first step toward earning an LPGA Tour card by opening with a 3-under-par 69 in the 90-hole Q-school tournament in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Playing on the tougher Legends course at LPGA International, the 19-year-old from Hawaii hit only four drivers — none on the par 5s — and her only bogey came on a three-putt from 25 feet on No. 14. She is tied for sixth.

Shiho Oyama of Japan led with a 64 on the more open, forgiving Champions course.

Former Washington Huskies standout Paige Mackenzie opened with a 72.

Ballesteros leaves intensive care: Seve Ballesteros, 51, was released from intensive care in Madrid, Spain, one day after the five-time major winner underwent his fourth brain surgery to deal with a cancerous tumor.

Daly fires 71 down under: John Daly shot a 1-under 71, including a testing 12-foot downhill birdie putt on his last hole, in the first round of the Australian PGA championship in Coolum.

Soccer

Tevez scores four goals for Man U: Carlos Tevez scored four goals as Manchester United defeated Blackburn 5-3 to advance to the semifinals of England's League Cup, while defending champion Tottenham came from behind to beat Watford 2-1.

Udinese, Galatasaray, Liege advance in UEFA Cup: U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu scored off a corner kick to help Standard Liege defeat Sampdoria 3-0 and advance from its group in the UEFA Cup. Udinese, Galatasaray, FC Twente and Metalist Kharkiv also advanced to the knockout phase.

UEFA promotes five-official plan: The use of five officials at international matches will move a step closer to reality when UEFA endorses the plan next week after successful trials at youth level.

A decision could come as soon as March, but the extra referee's assistants — who monitor each penalty area — are unlikely to become a regular feature until after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Tennis

Sampras beats McEnroe in return to England: Seven-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras played in England for the first time since 2002, beating John McEnroe 6-3, 6-4 in a seniors match at Royal Albert Hall.

Serbia gets first ATP event: Novak Djokovic will host Serbia's first ATP tournament, which will offer $500,000 in prize money. The third-ranked Serb confirmed that Belgrade will host the event in May. His family bought the license of the ABN Amro Open previously held in the Netherlands.

Federer cuts back clay-court schedule: Roger Federer will play only two clay-court tournaments before the French Open, the only Grand Slam tournament he has never won. Federer will head to Paris on May 24 after playing Masters series events on his least favorite surface in Rome and Madrid.

Biathlon

Greis wins opener: Michael Greis of Germany won the World Cup opener in Ostersund, Sweden, missing only one of his 20 targets.

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