Empty Netter Assists - 01-04-11
Penguins
-It looks like Tyler Kennedy (above) is going to get some time on the new second line with Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal.
-Better get used to Deryk Engelland for the next three seasons.
-The Winter Classic drew the NHL's best television ratings in the United States since 1975 (PG+).
-Could Mark Letestu merit some time on the penalty kill (PG+)?
-Tailgating was intense at the Winter Classic:
-Dan Bylsma speaks:
-A Capitals fans spends a pleasant weekend in Pittsburgh.
Atlantic Division
-Two goals and an assist by John Tavares led the Islanders to a 5-2 win at Calgary. Former Penguins prospect Matt Moulson scored two goals for New York while teammates Andy MacDonald and P.A. Parenteau recorded two assists. Fire Ray Shero. Rick DiPietro made 13 saves in the victory. David Moss scored both of the Flames' goals.
-Check out one of Tavares' goals:
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-The Islanders got a scare when starting goaltender DiPietro suffered a groin injury. He was replaced by Nathan Lawson who made 28 saves.
-DiPietro's injury:
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-The Flyers placed goaltender Michael Leighton, who helped lead the club to the Stanley Cup final last season, on waivers.
-The Rangers demoted defenseman Michael Del Zotto to Connecticut of the AHL and recalled defenseman Ryan McDonagh from Connecticut.
-Are the Devils now platooning goaltenders Martin Brodeur and Johan Hedberg?
-The Devils demoted defenseman Mark Fayne to Albany of the AHL.
Northeast Division
-A goal and an assist by Nathan Horton led the Bruins to a 2-1 defeat of the Maple Leafs. Tuukka Rask made 36 saves in the victory.
-Check out this "alley-oop" pass by Toronto's Luke Schenn to set up Mikhail Grabovski for a goal:
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-Cool Photo of the Night: Rask catching a puck with a water "explosion:"
-Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel has failed to score a goal in nine games against the Bruins since he was traded from Boston in the 2009 offseason.
Southeast Division
-An overtime goal by Bryan Allen gave the Panthers a 4-3 win against the Hurricanes. Cory Stillman had a goal and an assist for Florida while teammate Michael Frolik recorded two assists. Scott Clemmensen made 34 saves in the victory. Erik Cole recorded two assists for Carolina.
-New Lightning goaltender Dwayne Roloson will get a good test in his first game with Tampa Bay. He gets to face the Capitals tonight.
-Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau claimed it was dry skin and not food on his face in the first episode of "24/7."
-Washington captain Alex Ovechkin and goaltender Semyon Varlamov have a rather clever Sportscenter commercial:
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Central Division
-Two goals and an assist by Patrick Sharp led the Blackhawks to a 4-3 win at Los Angeles. Captain Jonathan Toews added a goal and an assist for Chicago while teammate Tomas Kopecky recorded two assists. Corey Crawford made 26 saves in the victory. Ryan Smyth scored two goals for the Kings.
-Pointy times for Smyth:
-The Kings' crease got a little busy here:
-Toews returned to the lineup after missing two games due to a shoulder injury.
Northwest Division
-Alex Burrows and Daniel Sedin each had a goal and an assist for the Canucks in a 4-3 win at San Jose. Teammate Christian Ehrhoff recorded two assists while Corey Schneider made 32 saves in the victory. Dany Heatley had two assists for the Sharks.
-Check out this pass by Henrik Sedin to set up Daniel Sedin for a goal:
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-Check out this pass by Ehrhoff to setup Alex Edler for a goal:
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Pacific Division
-The Coyotes demoted forward Mikkel Boedker to San Antonio of the AHL.
-The Ducks demoted forward Nick Bonino to Syracuse of the AHL.
IIHF World Championships
-Coyotes prospect Mark Visentin made 22 saves for Canada in a 4-1 semifinal defeat of the United States. Penguins prospect Simon Despres was plus-1 for Canada.
-Highlights:
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-Denis Golubev had two goals for Russia in a 4-3 shootout win against Sweden.
(Photos: Kennedy-Jamie Squire/Getty Images; Bruins/Maple Leafs-Dave Sandford/Getty Images; Blackhawks/Kings-Jeff Gross/Getty Images)