Empty Netter Assists - 02-27-10
Olympics
United States-Finland
-United States 6, Finland 1. The United States pretty much won this game in the first 13 minutes. NHL.com's recap.
-"It felt like we were putting a puck in the net every shift, and it was amazing." - United States forward Patrick Kane.
-Kane stepped up his game.
-"We haven't won anything yet." - United State forward Zach Parise.
-What does United States forward Ryan Malone's (above) success in this tournament mean for hockey in Pittsburgh?
-United States goaltender "Ryan Miller" predicted a win against Canada Sunday.
-"We didn't even compete today. They scored six goals in 12 minutes or something. At this point, you hope we can just play curling." - Finland forward Teemu Selanne.
-Selanne will be playing his final game for Suomi tonight.
-Finland defenseman Kimmo Timonen, 35, said he is probably playing in his final Olympics.
-Happy times for Malone. Not so much for Finland's Sami Salo or Miikka Kiprusoff:
-More happy times for Malone and teammates Phil Kessel, left, and Joe Pavelski:
-Miller having a moment:
-Miller keeping his eyes on these pucks:
-Focused times for United States defenseman and former Penguin Ryan Whitney:
-United States goaltender Tim Thomas got a chances to show off his new lid and pads:
-Glowing heats time for United States forward Dustin Brown:
-United States forward Ryan Callahan giving Finland's Tuomo Ruutu a rough right into the bench:
-Cool Photo of the Day: The United States' bench:
-United States forward Zach Parise chasing Finland's Joni Pitkanen:
-Finland forward and former Penguin Jarkko Ruutu is in the middle (and cause) of this pile up:
-Ruutu being Ruutu:
-Unsanitary times for Finland's Niklas Backstrom:
-And Kiprusoff too:
-Contemplative times for Finland's Teemu Selanne:
-Sad times for Finland:
-Vince Vaughn also had a non-IOC approved good time:
-"Dude, like Roenick could make your head bleed."
Canada-Slovakia
-Canada 3, Slovakia 2. A clutch save by Roberto Luongo on Canucks teammate Pavol Demitra preserved this win. NHL.com's recap.
-"It's an American city, so I'm sure they're not going to be cheering for me." - Sidney Crosby on what he expects from Pittsburgh fans during Sunday's gold medal match.
-"There's nothing better than a U.S.-Canada rivalry." - Canada forward Jonathan Toews.
-This photo is so full of win. Slovakia's Marian Hossa on the wrong end of another handshake line with Sidney Crosby:
(We assume Kris Draper approves.)
-Crosby taking the ice with teammates Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley:
-Crosby making a funny face while warming up:
-Crosby leering up ice:
-Crosby having a rough time with Slovakia's Milan Jurcina:
-Crosby getting ready for a faceoff:
-Luongo having a moment:
-Happy times for Luongo and teammate Ryan Getzlaf:
-Canada's Scott Niedermayer being popular:
-Canada's Jonathan Toews kicking up some ice:
-Heads up for Canada's Dan Boyle:
-Happy times for Canada:
-We don't want to question the skating ability Getzlaf, but...:
-We don't want to accuse Canada's Brenden Morrow of an elbow here on Slovakia's Tomas Kopecky, but...:
-Kopecky threw his own questionable hit on Boyle:
-Thirsty times for Slovakia's Jaroslav Halak:
-Sad times for Halak:
-Rough times for Slovakia's Richard Zednik:
-Tall times for Slovakia's Zdeno Chara:
-Sad times for Slovakia:
Potpourri
-The IOC decided it wasn't self important enough to investigate the Canadian women's team's postgame celebration following Thursday's gold-medal win against the United States.
-"All I have to say is get real. Get real because you know, we were enjoying the moment." - Canadian forward Haley Wickenheisser.
NHL
Penguins
-Ruslan Fedotenko aggravated an undisclosed injury.
-The Penguins used video coordinator Jim Britt as a practice goaltender yesterday.
-A shootout goals by Thomas Beauregard gave the Wheeling Nailers a 5-4 win against the Reading Royals.
-Happy 26th birthday to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins goaltender John Curry.
-Happy 22nd birthday to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward Dustin Jeffrey.
-Happy 61st birthday to former Penguins defenseman Ab DeMarco (right). Acquired in a midseason trade in 1973-74 along with Steve Durbano and Bob Kelly in exchange for Bryan Watson, Greg Polis, DeMarco spent parts of two seasons in Pittsburgh. His Penguins career lasted all of 42 games in which he recorded 21 points. Early in the 1974-75 season, DeMarco was dealt to the Canucks in exchange for Barry Wilkins.
Atlantic Division
-The Rangers recalled goaltender Miika Wiikman from Hartford of the AHL and demoted former Penguins goaltending prospect Chad Johnson.
-The Rangers re-assigned forward forward Andres Ambühl from the Swiss national team to Hartford.
-Rangers forward Sean Avery (right) is on Twitter, and the more and more we read his page, the more and more... we like him. Seriously. He wants Jimmy Fallon beat up, doesn't like Nickleback, and he said Mike Milbury's "Eurotrash" was "not good."
Northeast Division
-The Senators signed forward Ryan Shannon to a one-year contract extension. Terms of the deal were not available.
-Bruins forward Marc Savard is publically campaigning for his team to pick up some scoring help.
Southeast Division
-Thrashers forward Slava Kozlov has requested a trade (cough, cough).
-The Panthers will give goaltender Tomas Vokoun, fresh off appearing in the Olympics for the Czech Republic, a few days off.
-Florida has made a bid to host the All-Star Lame Game in 2011, 2012 or 2013.
-Lightning goaltender Mike Smith's girlfriend, Brigitte Acton, is skiing for Canada in Vancouver.
Central Division
-Blue Jackets forward R.J. Umberger, a native of a certain snow-afflicted part of the world, is opening a fitness center in a certain snow-afflicted part of the world.
-The Red Wings officially put forward Kirk Maltby (shoulder) long-term injured reserve and removed defenseman Andreas Lilja (concussion) from long-term injured reserve.
-What recession? The Blues have raised their ticket prices.
-St. Louis forward Keith Tkachuk underwent finger surgery.
Northwest Division
-The Avalanche will honor former forward Valeri Kamensky (right) prior to Monday's game against the Red Wings.
Pacific Division
-The Stars are a team that do realize there is a recession. They're slashing ticket prices.
-Dallas put goaltender Alex Auld on re-entry waivers.
-The Coyotes demoted forwards Joel Perrault, Brett MacLean and defenseman Anders Eriksson to San Antonio of the AHL.
Patrick Division
-Paul Chiasson had two goals for the Mercyhurst men's team in a 5-1 win against Connecticut.
-Sara O'Malley had two goals for the Robert Morris women's team in a 2-1 against Wayne State.
-Jess Jones had a goal and twoa assists for the Mercyhurst women's team in a 4-1 defeat of Syracuse.
-Happy 94th birthday to former Pittsburgh Hornets defenseman Jimmy Orlando.
(Photos: Olympics-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images, Harry How/Getty Images, Julie Jacobson/Associated Press, Chris O'Meara/Associated Press, Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press, Matt Slocum/Associated Press and Cameron Spencer/Getty Images; DeMarco-eBay; Avery-Al Bello/Getty Images; Kamensky-Photobucket)