Empty Netter Assists - Eastern Conference - 12-11-08
Penguins
-Dave Molinari's recap from last night.
-The Newark Star-Ledger's recap.
-The Star-Ledger also has a photo gallery.
-The Devils frustrated Sidney Crosby.
-Experience the Evolution thinks Eric Godard's proved his value last night through has absence.
-We didn't really realize this initally, but check out what Devils forward Zach Parise did on his goal last night:
-Sick.
-Jeff Taffe is getting another shot.
-Considering Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney are third and fourth in voting totals among Eastern Conference defensemen, it might be safe to assume voting process for the All-Star game is flawed.
-Tim Wallace is the 13th native of Alaska to reach the NHL.
-Consol Energy Arena? If that's the name of the new arena, how soon before they start calling it "The Mine?"
-Who are the Penguins missing the most right now? Vote on it here.
-The Penguins have been the second-most searched NHL team on Google in the United States in 2008. Guess who beat them. Again.
(Kudos to EN Reader "Kevin" for the heads up.)
-Here's the "Mad Max" video the Penguins played at Mellon Arena Monday night in honor of Maxime Talbot:
-Here's the new "Great Day for Hockey" commercial:
-Mark Letestu had two goals and an assist for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 7-3 win at Norfolk. Janne Pesonen contributed three assists to the Penguins.
-The AHL Penguins beat the Norfolk Admirals so badly last night, Norfolk coach Darren Rumble made his team practice after the game. Yeesh.
Atlantic Division
-Scott Gomez's overtime goal gave the Rangers a 3-2 win at Atlanta. Wade Redden assisted on all three of the Rangers' goals.
-Devils goaltender Scott Clemmensen missed another shutout.
-Pending some x-ray results, Devils defenseman Bryce Salvador appears to be fine after taking a shot from a Penguins player to the face last night.
-New Jersey demoted forward Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond to Lowell of the AHL.
-Yankee Stadium (the old one) could still be used for the 2010 Winter Classic.
-Flyers defenseman Matt Carle is dealing with a rib injury.
-Since losing their first six games of the season, the Flyers have gone 14-4-3. A players-only puppy-drowning session sparked the surge. We think.
Northeast Division
-Thomas Vanek had two goals while Jason Pominville contributed a goal and two assists for the Sabres in a 4-2 defeat of the Lightning. Vanek leads the NHL with 22 goals. Tampa Bay has lost nine games in a row. Former Penguins forward Mark Recchi scored a goal for the Lightning. Fire Ray Shero.
-Paul Gaustad sparked Buffalo last night.
-Lindy Ruff didn't think much of the official who swore at Ryan Miller.
-Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson isn't exactly crazy about having injured players in the lineup.
-Bruins forward Marc Savard, who apparently doesn't have a neck (right), is starting to add some goals to his offensive totals.
-Injuries are starting to test the depth of the Canadiens.
-The video is a little choppy, but someone compiled the top ten goals of Habs forward and former Penguin Alex Kovalev's career:
-There is now a movement to get Senators forward and former Penguin Shean Donovan into the all-star game.
Southeast Division
-Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin each had a goal and an assist for the Capitals who won at Boston, 3-1. Brent Johnson made 33 saves for the Capitals. The loss ended a five-game winning streak for the Bruins.
-Thrashers general manager Don Waddell said he is not trading forward Ilya Kovalchuk (right).
-If the Thrashers aren't going to move Kovalchuk, should they deal a goaltender?
-Atlanta forward and former Penguin Erik Christensen is dealing with a shoulder injury.
-Thrashers prospect and former Penguins draft pick Angelo Esposito is trying to make Canada's World Junior Championship roster for the fourth time.
-An unofficial estimate of fewer than 2,500 souls showed up for the Thrashers' game last night.
-The Hurricanes activated defenseman Dennis Seidenberg from injured reserve but put another defenseman, Anton Babchuk on the list.
-Do the Hurricanes need to rush goaltender Cam Ward back from his groin injury?
-The Lightning recalled forward Zenon Konopka from Norfolk of the AHL.
-Tampa Bay lost even after a visit from former President Bill Clinton.
-Lightning owner Len Barrie said some more bad things about former coach Barry Melrose.
-Gary Shelton of the St. Petersburg Times says Melrose should just shut up.
-Lightning forward Steven Stamkos (right) doesn't seem bothered by Melrose's criticism.
-Tampa Bay forward and former Penguin Adam Hall is dealing with an "upper-body" injury.
-The Captials recalled forward Oskar Osala from Hershey of the AHL. Forward Keith Aucoin and defenseman Bryan Helmer were demoted.
-The Pensblog wants Alex Ovechkin in the All-Star Game.
-Has Craig Anderson become the Panthers' No. 1 goaltender?
(Photos: Yankee Stadium-Photobucket; Savard-Elsa/Getty Images; Kovalchuk-Dave Sanford/Getty Images; Stamkos-Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)