Empty Netter Assists - 11-08-10
Penguins
-Sidney Crosby (above) is kind of good at faceoffs.
-Is Marc-Andre Fleury the next Steve Blass (PG+)?
-Brad Thiessen made 19 saves for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 2-1 defeat of the Rochester Americans.
-Highlights:
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-Andrew Lord's overtime goal gave the Wheeling Nailers a 5-4 win against the Elmira Jackals. Joey Haddad and Nick Petersen each had a goal and an assist for Wheeling while teammate Mike Gershon added two assists. Patrick Killeen made 19 saves in the victory.
-Happy 51st birthday to former Penguins defenseman Marc Chorney. A sixth-round pick in 1979, Chorney spent parts of four seasons in Pittsburgh. As a rookie in 1980-81, Chorney appeared in eight games and netted seven points. In the 1981 postseason, he played in two games and recorded one assist. His first full NHL season was 1981-82. He saw action in 60 games and scored seven points. He appeared in all five of the Penguins' postseason games that spring but failed to record a point. In 1982-83, he played in 67 games and scored eight points. After four games and one assist in 1983-84, Chorney was traded to the Kings in exchange for a draft pick. In 139 regular season games with the Penguins, Chorney scored 23 points. In seven playoff games, he recorded one assist.
Atlantic Division
-Devils forward Brian Rolston practiced for the first time since undergoing surgery for a sports hernia Oct. 14.
-New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur (elbow) did not practice.
Northeast Division
-Bruins forward David Krejci (right) is expected to be out at least a week after being officially diagnosed with a concussion.
-The "Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson must be fired" watch has apparently begun in Toronto.
Southeast Division
-Mike Green's overtime goal gave the Capitals a 3-2 win against the Flyers. Nicklas Backstrom recorded two assists for Washington while Braden Holtby made 23 saves in the victory. The Flyers had a six-game winning streak snapped.
-Green's goal:
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-The Lightning demoted forward Blair Jones and defenseman Mathieu Roy to Norfolk of the AHL.
Central Division
-Former Penguin Ty Conklin (above) made 27 saves for the Blues in a 2-0 shutout of the Rangers. Fire Ray Shero. Alexander Steen scored both of St. Louis' goals. The Blue have won seven consecutive games.
-Fight of the Night: Chicago's John Scott and Edmonton's Zach Stortini:
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-When told to "hit the Blues," Rangers goon Derek Boogaard got a little confused:
-We think.
-New York's Sean Avery > St. Louis' Tyson Strachan:
-Crazy Stat of the Night: This was the Blues' first ever shutout against the Rangers. Dang.
-Blackhawks forward and former Penguin Marian Hossa returned to the lineup after missing five games due to an "upper-body" injury. Fire Ray Shero.
Northwest Division
-Two assists by Ales Hemsky helped the Oilers edge the Blackhawks, 2-1. Nikolai Khabibulin made 26 saves in the victory.
-Edmonton's Jim Vandermeer used Chicago's Tomas Kopecky to remove the glass:
-"Losing two games to these guys in our own building is not a good thing." - Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell on falling twice this season at home to the Oilers who are in last place in the Western Conference.
Pacific Division
-A goal by Paul Mara with 1.7 seconds left in regulation gave the Ducks a thrilling 5-4 win against the Predators. Saku Koivu scored two goals for Anaheim while teammate Teemu Selanne added a goal and an assist. Jonas Hiller made 20 saves in the victory. Cody Franson, Patric Hornqvist and Cal O'Reilly each had a goal and an assist for the Predators who have lost five consecutive games.
-Check out the ridiculous feed by Anaheim's Bobby Ryan to set up Mara:
-Check out this goal by Nashville's Steve Sullivan:
-Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell will undergo an MRI for whatever is ailing his "upper body."
Adams Division
-Do yourself a favor and read this really good story by Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune about former North Stars/Capitals/Red Wings/Lightning/Panthers forward Dino Ciccarelli (right) who is being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame today.
-In addition to Ciccarelli, Red Wings executive executive Jimmy Devellano, Team Canada forward Angela James, Team USA forward Cammi Granato and the late Daryl "Doc" Seaman, owner of the Flames, will also be inducted. Granato is the sister of Penguins assistant coach Tony Granato.
-Former Predators goaltender Jan Lasak has joined Jokerit of the SM-liiga in Finland.
-Today would've been the 96th birthday of former Pittsburgh Hornets goaltender Jimmy Franks.
-Today would've been the the 100th birthday of former Pittsburgh Hornets forward Bob Gracie.
(Photos: Crosby-Al Bello/Getty Images; Chorney-Post-Gazette archives; Krejci-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Blues/Rangers-Al Bello/Getty Images and Paul J. Bereswill/Associated Press; Ciccarelli-Photobucket)