Empty Netter Assists - 05-22-10

Note: We're still working out some kinks with the shiny, new EN. Until then, we're only going to be running Empty Netter Assists for the most part. We have several "Mellon Arena Memories" to work through, including with at least two members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Until then, just sit tight.

Penguins

-The ice at Mellon Arena was melted and slushed away.

-Mellon Arena's basketball court brought in $15,001.

Playoff Stuff

Flyers-Canadiens

-Flyers forward Ian Laperriere is expected to return to the lineup today after being sidelined since April 22 due to a head injury.

-Philadelphia forward Daniel Carcillo, ever a symbol of dignity, is mad at Canadiens forward Mike Cammalleri for sticking his tongue out at him.

-The Canadiens have found something on their third line with Maxim Lapierre, former Penguin Dominic Moore and Tom Pyatt.

-The Habs are used to dealing with series deficits. Just ask the Capitals and Penguins.

-The Canadiens want to start targeting Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger. Good luck with that.

-"He's been the backbone of this team since the playoffs started." - Canadiens defenseman Josh Gorges on goaltender Jaroslav Halak.

-"When he walks into a room, you know it." - Canadiens defenseman and former Penguin Hal Gill on former general manager and captain Bob Gainey.

Sharks-Blackhawks

-Dustin Byfuglien's (above) overtime goal gave the Blackhawks a 3-2 win against the Sharks. Dave Bolland led Chicago with a goal and an assist on Byfuglien's goal while teammate Jonathan Toews contributed two assists. Antti Niemi made 44 saves in the win which gave the Blackhawks a 3-0 series lead. Patrick Marleau led San Jose with two goals.

-Byfuglien's goal:

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-"Nobody can miss Buff. I saw him rushing down the middle." - Bolland on his pass to Byfuglien.

-"He just laid it out in the slot and all I had to do was finish." - Byfuglien on Bolland's pass.

-"We shouldn't have allowed the puck to come in there free. And we've got to be aware of the shooter. The guy behind the net is not dangerous. Always the guy in the slot is." - Sharks coach Todd McLellan on the goal.

-Check out Bolland's breakaway goal:

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-San Jose's Joe Pavelski had a goal called back on a review:

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-Happy times in Chicago:

-Niemi kept his eyes on this puck:

-Niemi lost track of this puck:

-Eyes wide open times for Niemi:

-Chicago Adam Burish sent San Jose's Kent Huskins flying here:

-Byfuglien took a tumble here:

-San Jose's Torrey Mitchell took Chicago's Niklas Hjalmarsson into the wall here:

-San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov stretched out to make this save on Chicago forward and former Penguin Marian Hossa:

-Funny Face of the Day: San Jose's Devin Setoguchi:

-Nabokov kept his eyes on this puck:

-Chicago's John Madden stepped into the light:

-Anthem time in Chicago:

-"There are 13 teams in each conference that would love to be still playing right now." - Sharks forward Joe Thornton on being down 3-0.

-Marleau is the only member of his team coming through.

-Toews broke Stan Mikita's franchise record by scoring in his 12th consecutive postseason game on Mikita's 70th birthday. Mikita set his record in 1962.

-Three of the four starting goaltenders in the conference finals are European.

IIHF World Championships

-The semifinals are being held today. Sweden faces the Czech Republic while Russia takes on Germany.

-We're a few days late with this, but who says they don't fight in Europe? In the closing seconds of Germany's upset of Switzerland in the quarterfinal round, a brawl broke out. At one point, German assistant coach Ernst Hofner actually broke the nose of Swiss defenseman Timo Helbling with a quick jab:

-The 2015 tournament will be held in the Czech Republic.

Non-Playoff Stuff

Southeast Division

-Capitals owner and soon-to-be Wizards owner Ted Leonsis declared the NHL to be in better shape than the NBA.

Pacific Division

-Kings assistant coach and former defenseman Mark Hardy was arrested and charged with sexual assault in Washington D.C.

Smythe Division

-By way of Illegal Curve (by way of Sean Leahy of Yahoo!), two things you won't see on NBC too often. Quality late night programming and a Canadian hockey team:

-Today would've been the 97th birthday of former Pittsburgh Hornets forward Pete Kelly.

-Today would've been the 94th birthday to former Pittsburgh Hornets forward Chuck Corrigan.

(Photos: Sharks/Blackhawks-Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images, John J. Kim/Associated Press/Chicago Sun-Times and Jamie Squire/Getty Images)