Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Empty Netter Assists - 1-28-09

Penguins


-Why exactly is Mike Yeo in charge of the power play?


-Bob Smizik examines Michel Therrien's future with the team.


-Former Penguins forward Mark Johnson, the son of former coach "Badger" Bob Johnson, will coach the 2010 United States Olympic women's hockey team. Mark Johnson was also a member of the 1980 United States men's hockey team.


-Random YouTube Find of the day: Former Penguins goon Andre Roy slugging it out with defenseman John Erskine, formerly of the Islanders:









Atlantic Division


-Jamie Langenbrunner scored two goals and led the Devils to a 4-1 win at Ottawa. Teammat Travis Zajac added two assists.


-The video is a little choppy, but check out this crazy assist by New Jersey's Zach Parise last night:









-Former Devils coach Pat Burns was rather frank in discussing his latest bout with cancer. "Right now, I’m just enjoying the time left. That’s what I’m trying to do."


-Islanders forward Mike Sillinger underwent hip surgery and will miss the rest of the regular season.


-Unlike Michel Therrien circa early 2006, Flyers coach John Stevens doesn't think his defense is "soff."



Northeast Division


-The game of the night was between the Eastern Conference's two best teams. David Krejci's goal off Shaone Morrisonn gave the Bruins a 3-2 win against the Capitals. Washington forward Alex Ovechkin had a scary collision into the boards during the second period and left the momentarily with a stinger. He eventually returned fortunately.


-A hat trick by Drew Stafford (right) led the visiting Sabres to a 10-2 rout of the Oilers. Tim Connolly had two goals and an assist while teammates Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek each added a goal and two assists. The home loss was the worst in Edmonton's history.


-The Senators recalled forward Peter Regin from Binghamton of the AHL and demoted goaltender Martin Gerber.


-Is Toronto goaltender Curtis Joseph at the end of the line?


-Maple Leafs forward and former Penguin Dominic Moore isn't exactly a fan of Wild coach Jacques Lemaire.


Southeast Division


-If you were doing some scoreboard watching on behalf of the Penguins, you were rooting for the Flyers last night. Leave it to them to fail. Michael Frolik had a goal and two assists for the Panthers in a 3-2 win against the Flyers. The win pushed the Panthers into eighth place in the Eastern Conference and two points ahead of the Penguins. Teammate Keith Ballard added two assists.


-Florida defenseman is apparently not a fan of Flyers forward Scott Upshall and his attitudes on puppy drowning:



-Panthers coach Pete DeBoer has folks thinking about playoffs in Miami.


-When did the Lightning get good? Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis each had a goal and an assist for Tampa Bay in a 5-3 win against the Canadiens. Teammate and former Penguin Ryan Malone added a goal. Fire Ray Shero. The Lightning have won six of its last eight games.


-Thrashers forward Ilya Kovalchuk downplayed his role in brining peace between Evgeni Malkin and Alex Ovechkin.


-Carolina associate coach and former Penguins captain Ron Francis missed last night's game against the Rangers due to a back injury.


-Lightning defenseman and former Penguins prospect Jamie Heward is slowly recovering from a concussion.


(Photos: Stafford-Jimmy Jeong/Canadian Press; Cullimore-Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press)


Central Division


-Rick Nash had three goals including one in overtime and lifted the Blue Jackets to a 3-2 win against the Red Wings. With teammates Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom "suspended" last night, Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood was seen adjusting his new tin foil helmet.


-Nash doing his thing last night:









-The Blue Jackets activated forward Jason Chimera from injured reserve.


Northwest Division


-Pierre-Marc Bouchard had two goals and an assist for the Wild which blasted the Maple Leafs, 6-1. Teammate Andrew Brunette and Owen Nolan each had a goal and an assist.


-The Avalanche activated forward Ian Laperriere from injured reserve recalled defenseman Kyle Cuminskey from from Lake Erie of the AHL.


-Colorado forward David Jones suffered a shoulder injury last night.


-Oilers forward Sam Gagner suffered an ankle injury last night.


-Edmonton's goaltending stunk last night. Maybe the Penguins can trade Mathieu Garon back to the Oilers in exchange for say... oh... Ales Hemsky?


-Yes, that is very wishful thinking.


-The Oilers activated forward Zach Stortini from injured reserve.


-Flames forward and former Penguins goon Andre Roy avoided punishment for a throat slashing gesture. He apparently didn't make it towards anyone's girlfriend so the NHL was cool with it.


-Roy's teammate, defenseman Robyn Regehr also avoided a suspsension over a cross check to the head of Columbus forward Derek Dorsett. Dorsett didn't die so NHL discipline czar Colin Campbell didn't see a need to act on it.



-It's time for Canucks forward Mats Sundin to start doing something big.


Pacific Division


-Evgeni Nabokov made 31 saves and led the Sharks to a 3-0 shutout win at Colorado. Milan Michalek led San Jose's offense with two goals.


-Marty Turco made 25 saves and recorded his 35th career shutout for the Stars in a 2-0 defeat of the Thrashers. Steve Ott had a goal and an assist.


-Corey Perry and Chris Kunitz each scored two goals and led the Ducks to a 7-3 win at Phoenix. Teammate Bobby Ryan (right) added a goal and an assist. Shane Doan led the Coyotes with two goals.


-Sharks forward Dan Boyle suffered an "upper-body" injury in the All-Star Lame Game. Colin Campbell is expected to suspend him for 32 games.


-With Boyle dinged up, San Jose recalled defenseman Derek Joslin and Mike Moore from Worcester of the AHL.


-The Stars activated forward Fabian Brunnstrom from injured reserve and demoted him to Manitoba of the AHL for conditioning purposes.


Adams Division


-The ratings for the All-Star Lame Game were good for the NHL, but bad in comparison to other sports leagues on real television networks.


(Photo: Paul Connors/Associated Press)

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