Western Pennsylvania's finest - 10-22-08

Take a guess. Who is the top goal-scorer with ties to Western Pennsylvania in the NHL this season?

• Ryan Malone? Hmmm... No. Despite signing a big money contract in the offseason with the Lightning, Malone has struggled (as has the rest of his team) to find the back of the net. He only has one goal.

• R.J. Umberger? Nope. Even though he was expected to center a line with the sublime talents of Rick Nash coming into the season, Umberger has fallen on the Blue Jackets' depth chart. He has failed to score any goals.

• Bill Thomas? No. He's only dressed for two games for the Penguins this season and hasn't had a sniff of the goal.

• John Zeiler? Negative. He started the season on the Kings' injured reserve and remains there.

• Buffalo's Mike Weber or Philadelphia's Nate Guenin? Nada. The defensemen have started the season in the AHL.

Ladies and gentlemen, your leading goal-scorer from Western Pennsylvania is:

[View:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IwmHwm6EAE]
 
George Parros. That was the Ducks enforcer's second goal of the season. It matches a career-high the Washington, Pa. native had while with the Kings in 2005-06.

His goal helped the Ducks claim a 3-2 shootout win in Toronto last night.

MORE FROM BOSTON

EN Reader Nick Porto was kind enough to send us some photos from the Penguins game in Boston Monday night:

EMPTY NETTER ASSISTS

Penguins



-The great Mike Zigomanis has helped the Penguins in the faceoff circle.

-Rob Scuderi (above) is playing well.

-Jordan Staal is still the 17^th youngest player in the NHL.

-Forward Dave Gove was named the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins' captain. Connor James and Ryan Stone will serve as alternate captains.

-The AHL Penguins recalled goaltender David Brown from Wheeling.

Atlantic Division

-The Rangers put forward Patrick Rissmiller on waivers.

-The Devils aren't worried about Stars forward Sean Avery.

-Do the Flyers have a goaltending controversy?

-Philadelphia promoted forward Andreas Nodl from their AHL affiliate.

Northeast Division

-Shootout goals by Drew Stafford (above) and Thomas Vanek gave the Sabres a 3-2 shootout win against the Bruins. Buffalo is now 5-0-1.

-The Canadiens demoted forward Kyle Chipchura to Hamilton of the AHL.

-In honor of the 400^th anniversary of Quebec City, Canadiens alumni will play a team of Quebec Nordiques alumni.

-Is the idea of another franchise in Toronto all that farfetched?

Southeast Division

-An overtime goal by Vincent Lecavalier gave the Lightning a 3-2 win against the Thrashers. It was Tampa Bay's first win of the season.

-The Lightning claimed forward Matt Pettinger off waivers from the Canucks. Forward Jason Ward was put on waivers.

-As if things were enough of a joke in Tampa Bay, one of the owners is using goaltender Olaf Kolzig to advertise one of his horrible movies. Howard Baldwin didn't even do that with the Penguins. Wait...

[View:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj78h346EU0]

-Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin called his rivalry with Evgeni Malkin, "nothing special."

-After reading this story, you can't help but pull for Capitals defenseman Tyler Sloan.

-Check out this hit Sloan put on Calgary's Daymond Langkow last night:

[View:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOo1mTad0Jc]

-The Capitals' power play stinks.

-Washington's local television ratings are up.

-The Thrashers' attendance is hurting.

-NHL commissioner Gary Bettman promised that the Panthers would remain in Florida to provide mediocre hockey to dozens of fans for years to come.

Central Division

-Rick Nash's (right) goal and an assist helped the Blue Jackets beat the Canucks, 4-2.

-The Blues claimed former Penguins forward prospect David Koci off waivers from the Lightning.

-Red Wings defenseman Andreas Lilja underwent an appendectomy.

-Detroit forward Darren McCarty cleared waivers.

-The Red Wings demoted forward Darren Helm to Grand Rapids of the AHL.

-Jordan Staal isn't the only high draft pick from the 2006 draft having trouble finding the net. Blackhawks forward Jonathan Toews has yet to score as well.

-The Blackhawks promoted forward Troy Brouwer from Rockford of the AHL.

-The Blue Jackets are giving defenseman Kris Russell a try at forward.

Northwest Division



-Miikka Kiprusoff (above) made 30 saves and led the Flames to a 2-1 win against the Capitals. We watched this game last night. Leave it to Mike Keenan and the Flames to make a contest involving one the most exciting teams in the league about as entertaining as watching glass being made.

Pacific Division

-The Ducks put defenseman Ken Klee on waivers.

(Photos: Scuderi-Dave Sandford/Getty Image; Stafford-Rick Stewart/Getty Images; Nash-Paul Vernon/Associated Press; Kiprusoff-Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)