IN BRIEF

HOCKEY

Struggling Canadiens fire coach Carbonneau

Guy Carbonneau was fired as coach of the struggling Montreal Canadiens, hockey's most historic franchise and one in danger of missing the playoffs in its 100th season.

The timing of Monday's move was a bit surprising because the Canadiens are currently in a playoff position, and there are only 16 games left in the regular season.

General manager Bob Gainey, who handed the coaching duties over to Carbonneau three years ago, will return to the bench when Montreal hosts Edmonton today.

The Canadiens started Monday in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, but they were only one point above the postseason cutoff. What was supposed to be a season of celebration has turned into one of difficulty.

Montreal (35-24-7) went into a freefall in late January and February, losing 10 of 13.

The Canadiens, 5-4-1 in their past 10 games, won 3-1 at Dallas on Sunday in their last game with Carbonneau.

Also: San Jose goalie Evgeni Nabokov and defenseman Rob Blake will miss both games on the Sharks' upcoming road trip because of injuries.

Nabokov, second in the NHL with 32 victories, has missed five games due to an undisclosed lower-body injury. Blake suffered a foot injury from a slap shot.

UNLV

Women's golf in fourth at home tournament

The UNLV women's golf team was tied for fourth after the first round of its Spring Invitational at Boulder Creek Golf Club.

The Rebels shot 24-over 312 to tie Georgia, six shots behinder co-leaders Tulsa and Texas Tech in the 18-team field. Alejandra Guacaneme paced UNLV with a 3-over 75, which put her in a five-way tie for third.

Georgia's Marta Silva was the only golfer to break par, shooting 2-under 70. The tournament continues through Wednesday.

Also: UNLV catcher Drew Beuerlein was named Mountain West Conference baseball Player of the Week.

Beuerlein helped the Rebels sweep four games against Butler, going 9-for-14 with three triples, nine RBIs and eight runs scored.

MISCELLANEOUS

Sharapova to return at Indian Wells event

Maria Sharapova will return to the WTA Tour this week for the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif., the three-time major champion announced on her Web site.

After missing the past two Grand Slam tournaments with a right shoulder injury -- last year's U.S. Open and this year's Australian Open -- Sharapova also pulled out of an indoor event in Paris and a hard-court tournament in Dubai.

Sharapova, who has won Grand Slam singles titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, will also play in the doubles draw at Indian Wells -- her first doubles action in four years.

Also: The defending champion United States women's soccer team will meet Sweden in the final of the Algarve Cup in Albufeira, Portugal.

The Americans, who had already qualified for Wednesday's final match, edged Norway 1-0 on a goal by Megan Rapinoe to lead Group B with a perfect nine points. Sweden upset Germany 3-2 to move to No. 1 in Group A.

Friesan Fire, a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby, was installed as the early 5-2 favorite for Saturday's $600,000 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

San Diego's Torrey Pines Golf Course will host an LPGA Tour event for the first time in 27 years under an agreement to hold the Samsung World Championship on the South Course from September 17-20.