Empty Netter Assists - Western Conference - 12-29-08
Central Division
-The Blackhawks got two goals and two assists from Dustin Byfuglien (right with Martin Havlat, No. 24) and set a franchise record with their ninth-consecutive win, a 4-1 victory at Minnesota. Teammates Kris Versteeg added a goal and two assists while Jonathan Toews contributed two assists.
-Byfuglien had a nice trip home to Minnesota.
-Blue Jackets forward Fredrik Modin is dealing with an undisclosed injury thought to be related to this toes.
-Columbus is about to embark on an important road trip.
-The Red Wings are having issues on the penalty kill.
-The first Zamboni has touched the ice at Wrigley Field.
-Blues defenseman Jay McKee might have to have a finger amputated after blocking a shot last week. Yeesh...
-Predators forward Jason Arnott is fighting through a slump.
Northwest Division
-What ever happened to the Senators? Curtis Sanford made a "whopping" 18 saves for the Canucks in a 3-0 shutout of Ottawa which has lost eight of its last 10 games. Pavol Demitra and Henrik Sedin each had a goal and two assists.
-Pavol Demitra looked dangerous last night.
-Speaking of dangerous, check out this tilt between Ottawa's Chris Neil and Vancouver's Darcy Hordichuk:
-Erik Cole had a goal and two assists for the Oilers in a 5-2 win against the Predators. Teammates Sam Gagner and Sheldon Souray each had a goal and an assist. Edmonton's Lubomir Visnovsky had two assists and recorded his 300th career point.
-Check out the nifty deflection Gagner had to score his goal:
-Check out the steal and pass by Gagner for Cole's goal:
-The Oilers demoted goaltender Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers to Springfield of the AHL.
-Citing his 2005-06 season with the Penguins, Flames forward Andre Roy is feeling sorry for the freefalling Senators.
-Injuries have made things lean for Colorado coach Tony Granato.
Pacific Division
-Scott Niedermayer and Bobby Ryan, the second overall pick in the 2005 draft after Sidney Crosby, each had a goal and an assist for the Ducks in a 4-3 win at St. Louis. Fire Craig Patrick. Ryan Getzlaf added two assists for Anaheim which broke a three game-losing streak. St. Louis got a goal and an assist from David Perron.
-Stars forward Fabian Brunnstrom (right) is dealing with a "lower-body" injury.
-Dallas forward Mark Parrish is having trouble finding the back of the net.
-Can Los Angeles' Jonathan Quick become an elite goaltender?
-The Sharks are expected to offer forward Claude Lemieux a two-way contract today.
(Photos: Byfuglien-Tom Olmscheid/Associated Press; Brunnstrom-Donna McWilliam/Associated Press)