Empty Netter Assists - Western Conference - 1-3-09
Central Division
-Rick Nash (right, with goaltender Steve Mason) had a goal and three assists for the Blue Jackets who routed the the Avalanche, 6-1. Teammate Kristian Huselius added two assists while Mike Commodore had a goal and an assist. Mason made 23 saves and gave up his first goal in three games. He stinks.
-The Blue Jackets recalled forward Maksim Mayorov from Syracuse of the AHL.
-Red Wings forward Tomas Kopecky was upset about being scratched from the Winter Classic.
-Detroit defenseman Brett Lebda, a native of Chicago, got to see what Wrigley Field is like inside the fence for once.
-Ratings for the Winter Classic increased by 12 percent.
-This is why we really dislike playing the Winter Classic on New Year's Day; Michigan State's bowl game drew better ratings than the Winter Classic in "Hockeytown."
-Reebok's Web site crashed during the Winter Classic during its "find the logo contest."
-The Blackhawks are moving on from all the hype surrounding Thursday's game.
-Chicago doesn't have to worry about the Red Wings for a few months.
-After winning in the Winter Classic, Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios (right) tied hall-of-famer Scott Stevens for being on a winning team in regular season play. Chelios and Stevens each have 879 wins.
-Could Predators forward Steve Sullivan return to the lineup Monday? A back injury has shelved him since the 2006-07 season.
-Nashville defenseman Ryan Suter is maturing in many ways.
Northwest Division
-Marian Gaborik will be out 6-to-10 weeks following hip surgery.
-Gaborik's injury really screws up the Wild.
-Hopefully you didn't preorder that Gaborik/Minnesota jersey.
-The Flames demoted forward Brett Sutter to Quad City of the AHL.
-Calgary defenseman Rhett Warrener is considering retirement.
-Canucks defenseman Mattias Ohlund is dealing with an "upper-body" injury.
Pacific Division
-Zbynek Michalek had a goal and an assist to help the Coyotes edge the Islanders, 5-4. Doug Weight had two assists and recorded his 1,000th career point. Former Penguins forward Richard Park had two goals and an assist for New York. Fire Craig Patrick.
-The Sharks recalled defenseman Derek Joslin from Worcester of the AHL and demoted forward Jamie McGinn.
-San Jose forward Milan Michalek is finally putting it all together for the Sharks.
-Stars forward Brad Richards (right) has been ripping up the ice as of late.
-Leave it to the Flyers to help the Ducks set a single-game attendance record.
Adams Division
-Slovakia upset the United States in the World Junior Championships, 3-2.
-Don Sanderson, a defenseman in the Ontario Hockey Association, died from injuries resulting in an on-ice fight.
(Photos: Nash and Mason-David Zalubowski/Associated Press; Chelios-Jamie Squire/Getty Images; Richards-Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)