News » 4-3 in the second set, Sharapova held two break

SUNRISE, Fla. - Craig Anderson and the Ottawa Senators put together a strong defensive performance on the road — even if hardly anyone was there to see it.Anderson made 30 saves, Clarke MacArthur scored a power-play goal and Ottawa beat winless Florida 1-0 Monday night in front of the smallest crowd in Panthers history.MacArthur raced up the middle of the ice past two Florida defenders and sent a backhander past Roberto Luongo at 15:34 of the second period for Ottawas second power-play goal in 14 opportunities this season.It was the first goal this season for MacArthur, who was assisted by Kyle Turris and Erik Karlsson.Turry made a great play and gave me the breakaway, MacArthur said. Its a tough little pass to make and I was able to open him up and get him through. It was nice to get one.That lone goal was enough for Anderson, who earned his 27th career shutout to help the Senators finish 2-1 on their season-opening road trip.We played composed, we played solid, we played patient, said Anderson, who improved to 11-2-1 against his former team. We didnt force plays. Our breakout passes were tape to tape.Ottawa coach Paul MacLean was pleased with his clubs effort, especially considering it has yet to hit home ice at the Canadian Tire Centre.I thought it was a good game to give us some momentum going home, MacLean said. All in all, it was a good, solid effort by our group and something that we can build on.The announced crowd of 7,311 — it appeared much smaller — in Floridas second home game of the season broke the previous franchise low of 10,063 against Carolina on Oct. 31, 2007.Attendance has dwindled in recent years as the Panthers have struggled on the ice. In 2010, the team reduced seating capacity for hockey from 19,250 to 17,040 with many top rows covered. This season, curtains were added to the west end zone in the upper deck to further reduce capacity by several thousand.I dont pay attention when Im playing, Luongo said when asked about the lack of fan support. I focus on my job. If we want to get some people in the stands we have to start winning some hockey games.Anderson, a backup with the Panthers for several seasons, knows what it will take for attendance figures to improve.This city seems to need wins, whether its football, baseball, basketball. You need to win games to get fans in the building, Anderson said. Its a matter of them putting some wins together and getting the fan base to come back.Florida has yet to win a game this season, including the preseason. The team has managed one point in three games, with that coming in a 3-2 overtime setback at Tampa Bay on opening night.Luongo, who turned back 22 shots, took his first loss in his past 10 games against Ottawa. He was last beaten by the Senators on Dec. 5, 2005.The boys battled hard tonight, Luongo said. I think were getting better as the games go by. Just want to get that first one out of the way.Florida (0-2-1) has scored only three goals this season. The Panthers lost 5-1 to New Jersey on Saturday.The Panthers had their best scoring chance late in the first period when Brad Boyes raced in alone against Anderson but lost control of the puck.Florida coach Gerard Gallant is still looking for his first win in his first season with the Panthers.We played a good, hard game, lots of good scoring opportunities, but a 1-0 game is a tough game to lose, he said. When (Anderson) plays well and youve got no luck, things dont go in the net ... you just have to keep grinding it out.NOTES: The Panthers are off to their worst start in seven years. Florida last opened a season with three consecutive losses in 2007-08. ... Florida has allowed six power-play goals on 18 short-handed situations. ... Karlsson got his third assist to go with four goals in nine games at Florida. Mint Hydro Flask 32 Oz . -- The Sacramento Kings have signed first-round pick Nik Stauskas to his rookie contract. Hydro Flask Water Bottle Sale . -- Two nights after losing to the Eastern Conferences worst team, the Phoenix Coyotes handled the best. http://www.cheaphydroflaskstore.com/cobalt-hydro-flask.html . With Van Osch out with a flu bug that has been rampaging through the tournament, Knezevic stepped in to lead B.C. (4-3) to a pair of victories on Tuesday before 1,131 at the Maurice Richard Arena. Pink Hydro Flask 40 Oz . -- The Minnesota Twins have granted relief pitcher Matt Guerrier his unconditional release, making the 35-year-old right-hander a free agent. Hydro Flask 32 Oz Purple . After rookie right-hander Alex Colome excelled in a 5-2 victory in the opener, the Rays fell to Chris Tillman and the Orioles 4-1 on Friday night.PARIS -- Nothing came easily for Maria Sharapova in the French Open final. Serves hit by her surgically repaired shoulder often missed the mark, resulting in 12 double-faults. Shots that would be winners against most opponents were retrieved by Simona Halep and sent right back. Leads that usually hold up vanished in a blink. On a muggy afternoon, with the temperature in the high 70s (20s Celsius), points were lung-searing struggles. Sharapova was up to the task. In an entertaining and undulating championship match -- the first womens final at Roland Garros in 13 years to go three sets -- Sharapova showed that shes as tough as they come, particularly on the red clay that used to flummox her. She edged Halep 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4 Saturday to win a second French Open title in three years. "This is the toughest Grand Slam final Ive ever played," Sharapova said. It is her fifth major trophy in all. Remarkably, Sharapova owns twice as many from Paris as the one each she won at Wimbledon in 2004, the U.S. Open in 2006, and the Australian Open in 2008. "If somebody had told me ... at some stage in my career, that Id have more Roland Garros titles than any other Grand Slam, Id probably go get drunk," Sharapova said with a chuckle. "Or tell them to get drunk. One or the other." The 3-hour, 2-minute tangle featured too many momentum swings to count, filled with lengthy baseline exchanges, and terrific defence and shotmaking by both women. Not bad for someone who once famously described herself as feeling like a "cow on ice" when it came to playing on clay, a slow, demanding surface that requires excellent footwork. Now Sharapova knows how to move on clay, and can stretch points when needed. Since the start of 2012, Sharapova is 54-4 with seven titles on clay. Shes also won 20 consecutive clay three-setters, including four in a row this week. "It says that shes very fit. It says that shes very determined," said Sven Groenefeld, Sharapovas coach. "And it says that she never gives up." Sharapova broke into a huge smile while hoisting the trophy overhead, then shaking it with both hands and scanning a stadium that, improbably, has become hers. This was her third final in a row in Paris: She won the 2012 title to complete a career Grand Slam, then lost last year to Serena Williams, who bowed out in the second round this time. Sharapova is 20-1 the last thhree years at Roland Garros -- which is nothing compared to Rafael Nadals 65-1 career French Open mark heading into Sundays final Sunday against Novak Djokovic, but certainly quite impressive.dddddddddddd "Youre not just born being a natural clay-court player. OK, maybe if youre Nadal. But certainly not me," Sharapova said. "I didnt grow up on it; didnt play on it. I just took it upon myself to make myself better on it." Plus, Sharapova had an operation on her right shoulder, the one she uses to swing her racket, in October 2008. That joint troubled the Russian again in 2013, when she played one match from July to December. She now travels with a physiotherapist, Jerome Bianchi, and told him during the post-match ceremony, "Thank you for keeping me healthy." This was the ninth Grand Slam final for the No. 7-seeded Sharapova, and the first for Halep, a 22-year-old Romanian seeded fourth. Supported by a dozen folks in her guest box wearing red T-shirts saying "Allez Simona," and fans that chanted her first name, Halep acquitted herself well, showing off the scrambling baseline style that carried her to six straight-set wins until Saturday. "I will not forget this match," said Halep, who wiped away tears afterward. Each time it appeared Sharapova was ready to pull away, she was forced to do extra work. At 4-3 in the second set, Sharapova held two break points, but Halep saved both with gutsy groundstrokes. In the tiebreaker, Sharapova got within two points of victory at 5-3, but Halep took the next four to claim the set. Thats when Sharapova left for the locker room, taking an 8-minute break during which she changed out of her sweat-soaked outfit -- and let Halep stew for a bit. Sharapova went ahead 4-2, but Halep broke back to 4-all. It turned out that was her last stand, though. Sharapova wouldnt lose another point, gritting her teeth and shaking her fists after breaking at love for 5-4 with a backhand winner, then holding at love by forcing a backhand error from Halep on match point. When it ended, Sharapova dropped to her knees, caking her shins with clay, and folded her body forward, burying her face in her hands. "I had good tactics today. I opened the angles. Also, I was hitting the ball strong," Halep said. But Sharapova, Halep continued, "was moving really well." Cow on ice? More like Queen of Clay. ' ' '