Empty Netter Assists - 5-26-09
Playoff Stuff
Penguins
-Hey look at that. The Penguins have a power play.
-Sergei Gonchar's (right) health is improving.
-How much has Ruslan Fedotenko meant to the Penguins?
-Who has been the Penguins' MVP these playoffs?
-The NHL could move the start of the Stanley Cup final up to Saturday.
-Are the Penguins a tougher opponent in 2009 than they were in 2008?
Hurricanes
-Carolina isn't worried about being a game away from elimination.
-"They make you pay for your mistakes." - goaltender Cam Ward on the Penguins.
-The Hurricanes need something out of forward Eric Staal if they hope to stage a comeback.
-Carolina is pulling out all the stops. Its anthem singer is wearing her lucky socks.
-Carolina needs to quit giving the Penguins so much time and space.
Red Wings
-While forward Pavel Datsyuk (foot) and defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom ("lower body") are questionable for Game 5 but forward Kris Draper ("lower body") has been ruled out.
-Defenseman Niklas Kronwall is not popular in Chicago.
-How much of a difference has forward Valtteri Filppula (right) been for the Red Wings?
-"They're probably the most effective pair of D's in the playoffs." - forward Johan Franzen on defensemen Kronwall and Brad Stuart.
-Goaltender Chris Osgood can't get Versus.
Blackhawks
-Coach Joel Quenneville was fined $10,000 for criticizing officials following Game 4.
"We can't win three games at once." - forward Patrick Sharp on how his team will approach game 5.
-It would probably be a good idea to avoid taking 56 minutes in penalties against a team with a power play like the Red Wings.'
-Forward Martin Havlat (head) and goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin ("lower body) are day-to-day.
-Michael Jordan hates the Reebok Edge-Super-Duper-Mega-Ultra-Awesome-Humungo-Women-Will-Want-You Uniform System jerseys also.
Non-Playoff Stuff
Penguins
-What's up with prospect Eric Tangradi?
Northeast Division
-Canadiens forward and former Penguin Georges Laraque (right) plans on becoming a vegetarian June 1.
(Photos: Gonchar-Jamie Sabau/Getty Images; Filppula-Claus Andersen/Getty Images; Laraque-Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)