Fast Break

NHL

Senators send Paddock packing

The struggling Ottawa Senators fired coach John Paddock on Wednesday, with just 18 games to go in the season.

General manager Bryan Murray will take over as coach. Murray stepped aside to become the general manager last summer, when Paddock was given the job.

Assistant coach Ron Low was also fired, a day after the team was shut out for the second consecutive game.

Paddock posted a 36-22-6 record in his lone season as head coach. The Senators won 15 of their first 17 games and were first in the Eastern Conference until last weekend, when they were passed by New Jersey.

College baseball

Zags’ home opener today

Gonzaga University will open its home baseball schedule at Washington Trust Field today with a 3 p.m. non-conference matchup against BYU.

The game, the first of a four-game series that will include a noon doubleheader on Friday and an 11 a.m. single game Saturday, will be the earliest home opener for the Bulldogs since 2002, when they entertained Whitworth at Avista/A.R.T. Stadium on Feb. 22.

GU (0-4) opened its season in Stillwater, Okla., last week by losing four games to nationally ranked Oklahoma State. BYU (1-2) will be making its first appearance in Spokane since 1995.

Roger Clemens

Congress wants investigation

Roger Clemens failed to convince Congress he was telling the truth.

So the leaders of a House committee want the Justice Department to investigate if the star pitcher lied under oath about using performance-enhancing drugs.

In a letter sent to Attorney General Michael Mukasey, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman Henry Waxman and ranking Republican Tom Davis said Clemens’ testimony that he “never used anabolic steroids or human growth hormone warrants further investigation.”

The seven-time Cy Young Award winner gave a sworn deposition behind closed doors Feb. 5, then spoke alongside his accuser, former personal trainer Brian McNamee, at a public hearing Feb. 13.