Empty Netter Assists - 12-14-10
Penguins
-HBO addresses this rumor that the Penguins and Capitals are rivals:
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-Marc-Andre Fleury is your second star of the week in the NHL (PG+). We bet Brent Johnson would've been named the first star.
-Sponsorship revenue for the Winter Classic has already risen 20 percent compared to 2010.
-Former NHLer Bobby Smith, now majority owner and head coach of the QMJHL's Halifax Moosheads, shot down a report that Crosby was interested in purchasing the team.
-Dan Bylsma speaks:
-Marc-Andre Fleury speaks:
-Evgeni Malkin speaks:
-The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins' postponed game against the Albany Devils from Sunday in Atlantic City was rescheduled for Feb. 7.
-Eric Tangradi was named the AHL player of the week (PG+).
-Happy 48th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Chris Dahlquist. A free agent signing the 1985 offseason, Dahlquist spent parts of six seasons with the Penguins. As a rookie in 1985-86, Dahlquist saw action in five games and scored three points. He followed up in 1986-87 by playing in 19 games and recording one assist. In 1987-88, Dahlquist appeared in 44 contests and scored nine points. The 1988-89 campaign saw him play in 43 games and record six points. During that spring's postseason, Dahlquist played in two games and failed to record a point. In 1989-90, Dahlquist saw action in 62 games and scored a career-high 14 points. After 22 games and three points in 1990-91, Dahlquist and Jim Johnson were traded to the North Stars in exchange for Larry Murphy and Peter Taglianetti. In 195 regular season games with the Penguins, Dahlquist scored 36 points.
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Atlantic Division
-Islanders defenseman and former Penguin Mark Eaton will be sidelined one to two weeks due to a groin injury.
-Despite a wonky knee, Islanders forward and former Penguins prospect Matt Moulson has kept a consecutive games played streak of 110 games alive. Fire Ray Shero.
-The Devils recalled defensemen Anssi Salmela, Dan Kelly and Harry Young from Albany of the AHL.
Northeast Division
-With forwards Tim Connolly (groin) and Drew Stafford (shoulder) ready to return from injuries, the Sabres demoted forward Mark Mancari to Portland of the AHL.
-Maple Leafs forward Tyler Bozak (right) has a fear of flying. And since he's a Maple Leaf, we're assuming a fear of hockey in May.
Southeast Division
-Bryan Little scored two goals, including one in overtime, to give the Thrashers a 4-3 win at Ottawa. Dustin Byfuglien added a goal and an assist for Atlanta while teammate and former Penguin Chris Thorburn recorded two assists. Fire Ray Shero. Ondrej Pavelec made 27 saves in the victory.
-Little's overtime goal:
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-The Thrashers have won 10 of their past 12 games.
-The Capitals demoted defenseman Andrew Gordon to Hershey of the AHL.
Central Division
-Anders Lindback made 28 saves for the Predators in a 5-0 shutout of the Islanders. It was Lindback's second consecutive shutout. Patric Hornqvist had two goals for Nashville while teammate Sergei Kostitsyn netted a goal and an assist.
-Check out this play by Nashville's Shane O'Brien which led to one of Hornqvist's goals:
-Thirsty times for Lindback:
-The Blackhawks recalled forward Ryan Potulny from Rockford of the AHL.
-The Blues recalled forwards Adam Cracknell, Chris Porter and Dave Scatchard from Peoria of the AHL.
Northwest Division
-Matt Duchene had two goals and an assist for the Avalanche in a wild 7-5 win against the Blackhawks. Tomas Fleischmann and Paul Stastny each had a goal and an assist for Colorado while teammates Cal O'Reilly and Brandon Yip each recorded a goal and an assist. Craig Anderson made 29 saves in the victory. Troy Brouwer had two goals and an assist for Chicago.
-Duchene and Stastny are dancing fools:
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-Colorado's David Koci and Chicago's John Scott had a solid scrap:
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-A good look at the fight:
-Captain Jarome Iginla had two goals, including one in overtime, and gave the Flames a 3-2 win against the Blue Jackets. Miikka Kiprusoff made 22 saves in the victory. Antoine Vermette had a goal and an assist for Columbus.
-Iginla's overtime goal:
-With defneseman Kyle Quincey dealing with a shoulder ailment, the Avalanche recalled defenseman Kevin Montgomery from Lake Erie of the AHL.
-Avalanche forward T.J. Galiardi (wrist) and defenseman David Van Der Gulik (knee) were given medical clearance to resume practice.
-The Wild demoted forward Warren Peters to Houston of the AHL.
Pacific Division
-Jonathan Quick made a whopping 51 saves for the Kings in a 5-0 shutout win at Detroit. Anze Kopitar scored two goals for Los Angeles while teammate Drew Doughty recorded three assists.
-Check out this save by Quick on Detroit's Tomas Holmstrom:
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-Kings defenseman Matt Greene left the game due to an "upper-body" injury.
-Shootout goals by Jamie Benn and Brad Richards gave the Stars a 3-2 win against the Sharks. Mike Ribeiro had a goal and an assist for Dallas while Andrew Raycroft made 31 saves in the victory.
-Hard to Believe Stat of the Day: Stars forward Brad Richards has never been to an all-star game.
-The Kings activated defenseman Willie Mitchell (wrist) from injured reserve and placed forward Brad Richardson ("upper-body") on injured reserve.
Adams Division
-Jerseys for the AHL's all-star game were unveiled:
-Thinking Out Loud: We like them. Very basic. Very utilitarian. Too bad more NHL teams can't stay basic instead of trying to create ridiculously loud designs.
-Today would've been the 106th birthday of former Pittsburgh Hornets forward Eric Pettinger.
(Photos: Bozak-Justin K. Aller/Getty Images; Islanders/Predators-Mark Humphrey/Associated Press; Blackhawks/Avalanche-Barry Gutierrez/Associated Press)