Empty Netter Assists - Eastern Conference - 2-22-09

Penguins

-Dave Molinari's game recap from yesterday. The Penguins' win was impressive.

-The Associated Press' recap. Thank you Martin Biron:

-The Philadelphia Inquirer's recap. Sidney Crosby apparently didn't hear the Flyers' fans opinion of him.

-Biron and Mike Richards took the blame for the loss.

-Ryan Whitney's pass to Mike Richards:

-Riley Cote vs. Eric Godard:

-A look at 18 crucial losses for the Penguins this season.

-What have the Penguins stumbled so badly in 2007-08?

-Dan Bylsma is treating Kris Letang with some tough love.

-John Curry made 27 saves for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 4-1 loss at Hamilton. The loss ended a nine-game winning streak for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

-Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy is dealing with what is believed to be a "lower-body" injury.

-The AHL Penguins are glad to have Alex Goligoski back.

-The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins' game today at Albany has been postponed due to the River Rats' bus crash Monday.

-Mitch Ganzak had two assists for the Wheeling Nailers in a 5-2 loss at Reading. The Nailers have lost seven games in a row.

-Former Penguins defenseman Moe Mantha is looking for some work.

-Random YouTube Find of the Day: "How's Your Face Buddy?"

Atlantic Division

-What's up with the Devils? Yann Danis made a career high 40 saves for the Islanders for a 4-0 shutout of the Devils. It was the second shutout in three games of New Jersey. Frans Nielsen and Mark Streit each had two assists for New York.

-Islanders fans are feeling the painful uncertainty we all felt around here not too long ago.

-The Rangers will retire the jersey numbers of No. 9 Andy Bathgate and No. 3 Harry Howell tonight. Bathgate is a former Penguin.

-Due to the retiring of Howell's number, Rangers defenseman and former Penguin Michal Rozsival will switch his number from No. 3 to No. 33.

Northeast Division

-Scoreboard Watch for the Penguins: Alex Kovalev responded to his benching in a big way. The former Penguins forward had a goal and two assists and led the Canadiens to a 5-3 defeat of the Senators. Fire Craig Patrick. Teammate Roman Hamrlik added two assists while Jaroslav Halak made 44 saves in the win. Dany Heatley led Ottawa with two goals. Defenseman Chris Campoli, recently acquired from the Islanders in a trade, had two assists in his Ottawa debut. Despite a broken jaw, Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson recorded an assist. Former Penguins forward Jarkko Ruutu had a goal for Ottawa. Fire Ray Shero.The Canadiens are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 69 points, five more than the Penguins who are in tenth place with 64 points.

-Ruutu also had a fight with Montreal's Mathieu Dandenault:

-Kovalev felt like he was traded to a different team.

-Scoreboard Watch for the Penguins: Derek Roy had a goal and two assists for the Sabres in a 4-2 defeat of the Rangers. Ryan Miller made 20 saves in the win but left in the third period due to a high ankle sprain. He was relieved by former Penguin Patrick Lalime. Former Penguins forward Markus Naslund had a goal for New York. Fire Craig Patrick. The Sabres and Rangers are in seventh and eighth place respectively with 68 points each, four more than the Penguins.

-Miller is out indefinitely.

-Miller's injury:

-The Bruins had a poor effort in Florida last night.

Southeast Division

-Scoreboard Watch against the Penguins: Tomas Vokoun made 41 saves and led the Panthers to a 2-0 defeat of the Bruins. Radek Dvorak scored both of Florida's goals. Boston defenseman and former Penguin Andrew Ference appeared in his 500th career game. The Panthers are in sixth place with 68 points, four more than the Penguins.

-The Lightning demoted forward Steve Downie and defenseman Ty Wishart to Norfolk of the AHL.

-Hurricanes forward Scott Walker is still dealing from a concussion due to a hit to the head by Penguins forward Matt Cooke Jan. 20.