Empty Netter Assists - Western Conference - 12-14-08
Central Division
-Shootout goals by Henrik Zetterberg and Jiri Hudler (above) lifted the Red Wings to a wild 5-4 win at Phoenix. Johan Franzen had two goals while teammates Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom recorded a goal and an assist each. Mikkel Boedker and Joakim Lindstrom each had a goal and an assist for the Coyotes.
-Detroit defensman Chris Chelios made his 25th regular season debut.
-Dan Ellis made 27 saves and led the Predators to a 3-0 shutout of the Stars. Joel Ward added two goals.
-Steve Mason made 24 saves for the Blue Jackets in a 3-1 defeat of the Islanders. New York has lost six consecutive games.
-The Blackhawks matter once again.
-Defenseman Matt Walker has turned into a key addition for Chicago.
-Dan Craig, the NHL's ice-making guru, learned a lot from last season's Winter Classic, and applying the lessons to this season's game.
-The NHL has approached the Blues about opening next season in Sweden.
Northwest Division
-Dwayne Roloson made 23 saves and recorded his first shutout in two seasons as the Oilers beat the Canucks, 3-0.
-The Stewarts - Chris of Colorado and Anthony of Florida - are brothers.
-The Avalanche demoted defenseman Kyle Cumiskey to Lake Erie of the AHL.
-The Oilers activated forward Robert Nilsson (right) from injured reserve.
-Coach Jacques Lemaire is frustrated with his team's lack of focus.
Pacific Division
-Patrick Marleau scored two goals and an assist for the Sharks who edged the Blues, 5-4. San Jose reached the 50 point mark in only its 29th game. That ties the 1929-30 Bruins for fewest games to reach 50 points. Teammate Joe Thornton recorded three assists. St. Louis was led by Brad Wincester who scored two goals.
-Erik Ersberg made 33 saves for the Kings who beat the Wild, 3-1. Josh Harding made 40 saves for Minnesota.
-Kings forward Wayne Simmonds found a slightly different way to tie up an opponent's stick yesterday:
-Captain Dustin Brown does more than just score goals for Los Angeles.
-With forward Jeremy Roenick expected to miss three weeks due to a shoulder injury, the Sharks recalled forward Lukas Kaspar from Worcester of the AHL.
-Coyotes forward Brian McGrattan entered the NHL's and NHLPA's Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program.
-The Stars are expected to reach a decision on the fate of Stars forward Sean Avery today.
-The Ducks' defense has been solid despite the absence of injured blueliner Francois Beauchemin.
Patrick Division
-Bob Smizik says good bye.
-How legit is the KHL?
(Photos: Hudler-Franklin D. Ross/Associated Press; Nilsson-Jimmy Jeong/Canadian Press)