Empty Netters Assists - 9-20-09

Penguins

John Curry knows why he's probably not going to be playing in the NHL this season.

-If you have at least $265.01 laying around, you can have Joe Haddad's game-worn jersey from last weeks' Black-Gold scrimmage. All the jerseys from the game are being auctioned.

-Chris Cloud and Blair Yaworski scored goals for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 4-2 preseason loss to the Binghamton Senators.

-Goaltender Adam Berkhoel will have trouble keeping a roster spot with the AHL Penguins.

Atlantic DIvision

-Restricted free agent forward Brandon Dubinsky ended his holdout and signed a two-year deal with the Rangers worth a total of $3.7 million.

-The Rangers demoted goaltenders Chad Johnson, a former Penguins prospect, Matt Zaba, defensemen Ilkka Heikkinen, Corey Potter and forward Paul Crowder to Hartford  of the AHL.

-Islanders forward Kyle Okposo says he is symptom free after suffering a mild concussion last week resulting from a hit by Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf.

-Former Penguin Jon Sim had two goals and an assist for the Islanders in a 4-2 defeat of the Flames. Fire Craig Patrick.

-Artem Anisimov, Alex Kotalik and Pierre Parenteau each had a goal and an assist for the Rangers in a 5-2 win at Boston.

-Check out Anisimov's goal:

-Rangers forward Dane Byers gave a DDT to Bruins forward Steve Begin:

-Rangers forward Aaron Voros left his feet and charged Boston defenseman Dennis Wideman then went at it with former Penguins defensive prospect Drew Fata:

Northeast Division

-New Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel is not expected to make his Toronto debut until Nov. 15 due to recovery from shoulder surgery.

-There's a new food kiosk in Toronto's Air Canada Centre called Burkies Dog House which is named in honor of Maple Leafs overlord Brian Burke. You can get unique fare such as a Maple Dog which is a hot dog smothered in maple syrup and baked beans.

-Maple Leafs forward Matt Stajan defended the NHLPA's decision to fire Paul Kelly as head of the union.

-Check out this nifty goal Toronto's Niklas Hagman scored in regulation against the Flyers:

-The Senators demoted forward Cody Bass, Ryan Keller, Jeremy Yablonski, Ilya Zubov, defenseman Geoff Kinrade and former Penguins goaltender Andy Chiodo to Binghamton of the AHL. The team also returned goaltender Robin Lehner and forward Brett Parnham to their junior teams.

-Mike Fisher had a hat trick and an assist and led the Senators to a 6-1 rout of the Canadiens.

-Ryan Miller made 42 saves for the Sabres in a 3-1 win at Detroit.

Southeast Division

-Even if he's 37 and entering his 18th NHL season, Thrashers forward Slava Kozlov (right) is not thinking about retirement.

-The Thrashers demoted forwards Angelo Esposito, a former Penguins first-round pick, Riley Holzapfel, Rylan Kaip, Andrew Kozek, Jordan LaVallee, Brett Sterling and Anthony Stewart defenseman Chad Denny and former Pittsburgh Forge goaltender Peter Mannino to Chicago of the AHL.

-Former Hurricanes defenseman Anton Babchuk joined the team of former Penguins captain Jaromir Jagr, Avangard Omsk of the KHL.

-The Hurricanes demoted forwards Chris Terry, Mike Angelidis, Nicolas Blanchard, Nick Dodge, defensemen Zack Fitzgerald, Jonathan Paiement, Brett Bellemore and goaltender Mike Murphy to Albany of the AHL.

-The Lightning returned forward Richard Panik to his junior team.

-Mathieu Perreault's overtime goal gave the Capitals a 3-2 win at Chicago.

Central Division

-Red Wings coach Mike Babcock isn't exactly sold on using Jimmy Howard as his back up goaltender.

-Here's a rare sight: Red Wings forward Kris Draper being classy:

-Blues forward Paul Kariya is hoping to rebound after a injury-filled 2008-09 season.

-Predators forward Steve Sullivan is dealing with a groin injury.

-The Blackhawks will honor former forward Jeremy Roenick prior to a game against the Sharks, Nov. 15.

-A goal and an assist from Jason Arnott helped the Predators edge the rival Blue Jackets, 3-2.

-Columbus forward Tom Sestito suffered a head injury after getting into a fight with Nashville forward Jordin Tootoo last night:

-And the "ban fighting" movement gains a little bit more momentum.

Northwest Division

-The Wild signed defenseman Bjorn Krupp, the son of former Islanders defenseman Uwe Krupp, to an entry-level contract.

-The Avalanche demoted forwards Philippe Dupuis, Justin Mercier, Marty Sertich, Darren Haydar, Brian Willsie, Brandon Yip, defensemen Brian Fahey, Kevin Montgomery, Wes O'Neill and Brett Skinner to Lake Erie of the AHL.

-Two assists from Ryan Kesler helped the Canucks beat the rival Oilers, 3-1.

Pacific Division

-The Ducks forwards Shawn Weller, MacGregor Sharp, Maxime Macenauer, defenseman Brett Festerling and goaltender J.P. Levasseur to San Jose of the AHL, defenseman Brian Salcido to Manitoba of the AHL and returned Brandon McMillan to his junior team.

-Anaheim also returned forwards Peter Holland (right), the team's first-round pick this summer, Nicolas Deschamps, Josh Brittain, defensemen Matt Clark, Stefan Warg and goaltender Marco Cousineau to their junior teams.

-Patrick Marleau had two goals, including one in overtime, and the Sharks beat the Coyotes, 5-4.

-Brayden Schenn, the Kings' first-round pick this summer, scored two goals in a 4-1 defeat of the rival Ducks.

-Two goals from Jamie Benn helped the Stars beat the Blues, 4-2.

Smythe Division

-Former Robert Morris forward Ryan Cruthers joined the Texas Brahmas of the Central Hockey League.

-Happy 68th birthday to former Pittsburgh Hornets forward Ray Cullen.

(Photos: Curry-Associated Press; Kozlov-Gregory Smith/Associated Press; Holland-Jamie Squire/Getty Images)