Empty Netter Assists - Eastern Conference -1-23-09

Penguins

-Maxime Talbot (above, center) is apparently dealing with a broken foot. (Kudos to The Pensblog for the heads up.)

-Despite some past friction, Mathieu Garon doesn't have a problem with Michel Therrien.

-Ed Olczyk is still a believer.

-Is Olczyk right?

-Sidney Crosby will have a long weekend.

-If Alex Ovechkin had to pick five players to have on the ice along with him, Crosby would be one of them.

-Jordan Staal is one of many quality centers which came out of the 2006 draft.

-Paul Bissonnette, Dustin Jeffrey, Bill Thomas and other might be teammates, but they're all competing with each other at the same time.

-Tim Wallace will have to grow a moustache for the next month.

-EN contributor Eric Politowski spotted an old fight between former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins goon David Koci and Dennis Bonvie, then of the rival Hershey Bears:

Atlantic Division

-The Flyers have inquired about the health of former forward Peter Forsberg.

Northeast Division

-Canadiens forward and former Penguin Alex Kovalev will be the captain for the Eastern Conference in the All-Star Lame Game. San Jose's Joe Thornton will wear the "C" for the Western Conference.

-Montreal demoted forwards Kyle Chipchura and Gregory Stewart to Hamilton of the AHL.

-Shockingly, Maple Leafs overlord Brian Burke is not in favor of doing away with fighting.

-Toronto defenseman Tomas Kaberle doesn't feel like a real all-star.

-Forward Blake Wheeler has turned out to be the real deal for the Bruins.

-The Bruins demoted forwards Martin St. Pierre, Vladimir Sobotka and defenseman Matt Lashoff to Providence of the AHL.

-There's a fake version of Senators forward Daniel Alfredsson (right) on Twitter. Fake Alfredsson apparently wears a shirt.

Southeast Division

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

-Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski is apparently a Hartford Whalers fan.

-Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau wants his team to improve.

(Photo: Talbot-Jim McIsaac/Getty Images; Alfredsson-Unknown)