Empty Netter Assists - Eastern Conference - 1-6-09
Penguins
-Dave Molinari's recap from last night's game. The Penguins' offense isn't so hot right now.
-The Associated Press' recap. Leave it to the Penguins to help Henrik Lundqvist record his first shutout of the season.
-Newsday's recap. Leave it to the Penguins to make the Rangers' penalty kill to look good for once.
-The New York Times' recap. The Penguins are in a tailspin.
-Eric Godard's fight with New York's Colton Orr last night:
-It's not often you ask someone named "Satan" to be more intense, but Michel Therrien is a hard man to satisfy.
-Other than maybe making Sidney Crosby take out the trash every so often, Mario Lemieux isn't very involved with the day-to-day operations with the Penguins.
-Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch is claiming the Penguins are one of five teams the Blue Jackets have contacted concerning a trade.
-Defenseman Alex Grant, the Penguins' fourth-round pick in 2007, was dealt by his Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team, the Saint John Sea Dogs, to the Shawnigian Cataractes.
-Penguins investor Ron Burkle has purchased 8.3 percent of Barnes and Noble.
-No word yet if he'll be making Mike Yeo read the following:
Atlantic Division
-Henrik Lundqvist means everything to the Rangers.
-Add forward Joffrey Lupul to the Flyers' list of battered bodies. He has an abdominal strain.
-The Flyers are trying to get their 2007 first-round draft pick, forward James van Riemsdyk to turn pro.
-The father of Devils play-by-play broadcaster Mike Emrick passed away.
-New Jersey's players don't plan on giving any sort of special treat to the son of their head coach Brent Sutter tonight. Sutter's son, Brandon, is a forward with Carolina.
-Brent Sutter isn't exactly eager to coach against his son.
Northeast Division
-The Sabres are getting healthy. Forward Tim Connolly (various ailments) and defenseman Craig Rivet (shoulder) are close to returning to the lineup. Maxim Afinogenov is dealing with a groin injury however.
-Canadiens forward and former Penguin Georges Laraque (right) discussed the recent death of hockey player Don Sanderson and the importance of fighting to the sport.
Southeast Division
-Former Penguins captain Ron Francis is working out so far as an assistant coach with the Hurricanes.
-The Lightning demoted defenseman Vladimir Mihalik and Ty Wishart to Norfolk of the AHL.
-Tampa Bay forward and former Penguin Gary Roberts is still dealing with an elbow injury.
-Panthers defenseman Bryan McCabe makes his return to Toronto.
-Are the Flyers the Capitals' biggest rival?
(Photo: Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)