Empty Netter Assists - 4-23-09
Playoff Stuff
Penguins-Flyers
-The Flyers aren't quitting.
-Tyler Kennedy is no stranger of being on the wrong end of playoff comebacks.
-Does Sergei Gonchar need to be on the ice for the entire power play?
-Gene Collier says Marc-Andre Fleury (right) is kind of good.
-The Flyers are simply not as good as the Penguins.
-Sam Donnellson of the Philadelphia Daily News is still moaning about Sidney Crosby's goal in Game 4.
-Has anyone seen Mike Knuble or Joffrey Lupul?
"We just can't let that goalie outwork us, and I think that's what happened." - Flyers coach John Stevens on Marc-Andre Fleury's effort in Game 4.
-The Flyers insist they aren't finished.
-Mellon Arena is a dump.
-Consol Energy Center will be a green dump.
Bruins-Canadiens
-Thanks for showing up Montreal. Michael Ryder had two goals and an assist for the Bruins in a 4-1 rout of his former team, the Canadiens. David Krejci added a goal and an assist for Boston which swept the series, 4-0.
-The handshake lines:
-Boston won its first playoff series in ten years.
-Michael Ryder doesn't exactly hide his contempt for his former team.
-Bruins forward Milan Lucic and Montreal defenseman Mike Komisarek didn't exactly hide their contempt for each other last night:
-Is David Krejci one of the NHL's best all-around players?
-Montreal simply couldn't compete with Boston.
-Canadiens goaltender Carey Price pulled a Patrick Roy last night:
Capitals-Rangers
-Henrik Lundqvist made 38 saves for the Rangers who held off the Capitals, 2-1. Chris Drury and Paul Mara scored goals for New York which leads the series, 3-1.
-Lundqvist basically saved the Rangers last night.
-The Capitals want the NHL to review two potential high sticking infractions by New York forward Sean Avery.
"He saved the game again. What can I say about him? He’s great right now." - Washington forward Alex Ovechkin on Lundqvist.
-Is Ovechkin really the sport's best player if he can't win in the playoffs?
-Chris Drury has become the heart of the Rangers.
-The Capitals have not advanced past the first round since 1998.
"Absolutely we're not done. It's hard, but it's not ever yet." - Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom.
Devils-Hurricanes
-Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur's (right) hissy fit in Game 3 scared his children.
-New Jersey forward Jamie Langenbrunner ("lower body") and defenseman Bryce Salvador (undisclosed) are doubtful for Game 5.
-Hurricanes forward Jussi Jokinen's goal with 0.2 second left in the third period of Game 4 set a record for the latest regulation goal of a Stanley Cup playoff game.
-A big hit by Carolina forward Tuomo Ruutu on Devils defenseman Colin White set up Jokinen's goal.
Sharks-Ducks
-San Jose was able to get its power play going in Game 3 due to the efforts of defensemen Rob Blake and Dan Boyle.
-If you like defensemen, this is your series.
-Sharks captain Patrick Marleau needs to step up and push his team to another win.
-Versus reporter Lindsay Soto had some issues in Game 3.
Red Wings-Blue Jackets
-Surprisingly, the Red Wings haven't had an opening round sweep since 2000.
-The Blue Jackets need to play like there's nothing to lose.
-Columbus forward R.J. Umberger (right) claims a thunderous hit by Detroit defenseman Brad Stuart in Game 3 actually relieved some pain in his neck.
-Defenseman Jonathan Ericsson is the latest diamond in the rough found by the Red Wings.
-Octopusses aren't popular in Columbus.
Canucks-Blues
-Forward Alex Burrows is a legend in the Pacific Northwest.
-Have we seen the best of goaltender Roberto Luongo yet?
-The Canucks are rooting for the Ducks right now.
-Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault doesn't think down time after a series sweep will hurt his squad.
-The Vancouver Provice is asking readers to map out Stanley Cup parade routes. A little early for that.
-Even if they were swept in the first round, the Blues learned some valuable lessons this season.
-St. Louis demoted forward Yan Stastny and Tyson Strachan to Peoria of the AHL.
Blackhawks-Flames
-Jarome Iginla and Olli Jokinen (right) each had two goals and an assist for the Flames in a 6-4 defeat of the Blackhawks. Eric Nystrom added a goal and two assists for Calgary which tied the series, 2-2. Kris Versteeg led the Blackhawks with a goal and two assists.
-Jokinen snapped a 16-game goal-scoring slump.
-A rally by the Blackhawks fell short.
Minor League Playoffs
-Calder Cup: Jeff Taffe had a goal and an assist for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 2-1 win at Bridgeport. John Curry made 32 saves in the win that gave the Penguins a 3-1 series lead.
-Unlike their NHL affiliate, the AHL Penguins have gotten quite a bit out of their power play this posteason. It has gone 5-for-19 (29 percent).
Non-Playoff Stuff
Northwest Division
-The Oilers will wear their retro throwback jerseys for 27 home games next season.
Central Division
-According to an Ohio State University study, the Blue Jackets and Nationwide Arena had generated $2.5 billion for Central Ohio in the past decade.
Smythe Division
-Columbus goaltender Steve Mason, Anaheim forward Bobby Ryan (right) and Chicago Kris Versteeg were named finalists for the Calder Trophy.
-The NHL and NHLPA aren't exactly seeing eye-to-eye on drug testing.
(Photos: Fleury-Steve Nesius/Associated Press; Brodeur-Grant Halverson/Getty Images; Umberger-Paul Sancya/Associated Press; Jokinen-Mike Ridewood/Getty Images; Ryan-Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)