Empty Netter Assists - 02-20-11
Penguins
-Ray Shero's plans at the trade deadline hinge on Sidney Crosby's (above) health.
-Some bad news as former Penguins' forward Nick Harbaruk's health has taken a turn for the worst. One of six Polish-born players in NHL history, Harbaruk at one time held the Penguins' record for consecutive regular seasons games played with 276.
-Consol Energy Center has provided tangible benefits to the Hill District.
-Dan Bylsma speaks:
-Zbynek Michalek speaks, sports a creepy mustache:
-Canadiens hall-of-famer Bob Gainey addresses Mario Lemieux:
-Speaking of which, here's a bit of shocking news. A long established Anglo-Canadian xenophobe bashed a French Canadian.
-Lemieux isn't the first legendary player to slam the NHL over violence. Bobby Hull did back in 1975, but no one paid attention.
-Shootout goals by Keven Veilleux and Andrew Hutchinson gave the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins a 2-1 win against the Norfolk Admirals. Brad Thiessen made 26 saves in the victory.
-Since being recalled from the Wheeling Nailers Feb. 3, Ben Street has eight goals in nine games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
-Alex Grant had a goal for the Wheeling Nailers in a 3-1 loss to the Reading Royals.
-Happy 68th birthday to former Penguins and Pittsburgh Hornets goaltender Joe Daley (right). Claimed from the Red Wings in the 1967 expansion draft, Daley spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. He made his NHL debut in 1968-69 by appearing in 29 games while serving as Les Binkley's back up and going 10-13-2 with a 3.23 and two shutouts. In 1969-70, Daley was limited to nine games, a 1-5-3 record and 2.95 goals against average. In the 1970 offseason, Daley was claimed off waivers by the Sabres. Daley eventually became the starting goaltender for the WHA's Winnipeg Jets. When that league merged with the NHL, Daley was its career leader in goaltending wins with 167. He currently operates Joe Daley Sports Cards in Winnipeg. In 38 games with the Penguins, Daley had an 11-18-6 record with an 3.16 goals against average and two shutouts.
-Happy 46th birthday to former Penguins forward Mark Kachowski. A free agent signing in the 1987 offseason, Kachowski spent parts of three seasons with the Penguins. As a rookie in 1987-88, Kachowski appeared in 38 games, scored eight points and recorded 126 penalty minutes. He followed that up in 1988-89 by playing in 12 games, recording two points and 43 penalty minutes. His final NHL season was 1989-90. He saw action in 14 games and netted one assist as well as 40 penalty minutes. After spending each of the next two seasons with the Penguins' IHL affiliate in Muskegon, Kachowski was released in the 1992 offseason. In 64 games, Kachowski scored 11 points and recorded 203 penalty minutes.
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-Happy 27th birthday to current Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy. A free agent signing in 2007, Lovejoy has spent parts of three seasons with the Penguins. He debuted in the NHL during the 2008-09 season by appearing in two games and failing to record a point. In 2009-10, Lovejoy saw action in three games and recorded three assists. This season, Lovejoy has played in 25 games and scored seven points. In 39 career games with the Penguins, Lovejoy, one of seven players in NHL history from New Hampshire, has scored 10 points.
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Atlantic Division
-Dainius Zubrus had two goals and led the red-hot Devils to a 4-1 win against the Hurricanes. Teammate Patrik Elias recorded three assists while former Penguin Johan Hedberg made 24 saves in the victory. New Jersey is 15-1-2 in its last 18 games. Once 27 points out of a playoff spot, the Devils now trail eighth-place Carolina by 10 points in the Eastern Conference standings.
-Thinking Out Loud: If the Devils can pull off the impossible and get to the postseason, Devils coach Jacques Lemaire should get the Jack Adams Award for life.
-“There are still teams ahead of us, between us and eighth place. I don’t think that’s the way we’re looking at it. We’re really just playing. I think a lot of people still have the same view. We’re still a long shot. We keep winning, but it’s still a big hole.” - Elias on his team's playoff hopes.
-Elias recorded his 800th career point.
-Al Montoya made 35 saves for the Islanders in a 3-0 shutout of the Kings. Former Penguins/Kings forward Matt Moulson scored two goals for New York (Fire Ray Shero and Dean Lombardi) while teammates P.A. Parenteau and John Tavares each recorded two assists.
-Check out the effort by Moulson on his second goal:
-We don't want to say Nassau Coliseum is a dump, but Montoya was wondering where that leak was coming from:
-We think.
-The Islanders treated Kings forward and former Penguin Alexei Ponikarovsky the same way they treated the current Penguins last week:
-Moulson scored both of his goals on his brother in law, Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick.
-Devils defenseman Bryce Salvador is still struggling with a concussion he suffered in the preseason.
Northeast Division
-Jason Spezza's shootout goal gave the Senators a 1-0 win against the rival Maple Leafs. In his debut with the Senators, Craig Anderson made 41 saves to earn the win and a shutout. Toronto's James Reimer also was credited with a shutout after making 22 saves.
-Fight of the Night: Ottawa's Francis Lessard and Toronto's Jay Rosehill:
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-Happy times for Anderson and new teammate Chris Neil:
-We don't want to say they take hockey too seriously up in Canada, but apparently martial law gets declared anytime the Maple Leafs are out of playoff contention:
-In all seriousness, the Canadian military was honored honoured throughout the game. Phil Kessel and the Maple Leafs sported camouflage jerseys during warm-ups:
-Toronto's Brett Lebda and Ottawa's Zack Smith kicked up a ton of ice:
-“It flat out sucks.” - Reimer on being awarded a shutout despite the loss.
-Senators forward Peter Regin left the game with an apparent left shoulder injury.
-The Canadiens demoted defenseman Brendon Nash to Hamilton of the AHL.
Southeast Division
-Mike Santorelli's shootout goal gave the Panthers a 3-2 win against the rival Lightning. Scott Clemmensen made 34 saves in the victory.
-If you're wondering what new defenseman Eric Brewer looked like in his BOLTS Lightning jersey, here you go:
-The Capitals demoted defenseman Patrick McNeill to Hershey of the AHL.
Central Division
-So far so good for the "new" Blues. Andy McDonald and T.J. Oshie each had two goals and an assist for St. Louis in a 9-3 rout of the Ducks. David Backes and Alexander Steen each added a goal and two assist for the Blues while teammate Alex Pietrangelo recorded three assists. Ben Bishop made 20 saves in the victory.
-Second Fight of the Night: Anaheim's George Parros and St. Louis' Cam Janssen:
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-New forward Chris Stewart scored two goals in his debut with the Blues.
-If you're wondering what Stewart looked like in his new Blues jersey, here you go:
-Red Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi is expected to play in his 1,000th career game today.
-The Blues recalled forward Philip McRae and defenseman Tyson Strachan from Peoria of the AHL.
-The Blue Jackets demoted defenseman John Moore to Springfield of the AHL.
-Predators forward Jordin Tootoo returned to the lineup last night against the Coyotes after missing 23 games while being enrolled in the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program.
-Predators captain Shea Weber left the game after suffering an "upper-body" injury following a hit by Coyotes captain Shane Doan.
Northwest Division
-Two goals and an assist by Daniel Sedin led the Canucks to a 5-2 win against the struggling Stars. Raffi Torres added two goals for Vancouver while captain Henrik Sedin netted a goal and two assists. Roberto Luongo made 22 saves in the victory. Dallas has lost eight out of it's past nine games.
-Check out Torres' first goal:
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-Check out Daniel Sedin's second goal:
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-The passing on Henrik Sedin's goal was sick. Just sick:
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-Check out the pass by Vancouver's Manny Malhotra to set up Torres for his second goal:
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-Happy times for Malhotra and Torres:
-Taylor Hall's first career hat trick led the Oilers to a 5-3 win against the Thrashers. Ales Hemsky added a goal and two assists for Edmonton while teammate Tom Gilbert recorded two assists. Devan Dubnyk made 28 saves in the victory.
-Hall's hat trick:
-It wasn't all bad for the Thrashers. Check out this dazzling goal by Atlanta's Evander Kane:
-Hall had the Oilers' first hat trick since March 19, 2009.
-The temperature for the Heritage Classic will probably be a tad chillier than it was for the Winter Classic. They're expecting minus-9 degrees C (15.8 degrees F) in Calgary tomorrow at game time.
-Some photos from yesterday's practices. Montreal's Roman Hamrlik would pretty much be the baddest human one earth if he ever played a game in these shades:
-Remember that scene from "The Christmas Story" where that kid got his tongue stuck on that metal pole? Well the same thing happened to Calgary's Mikael Backlund and his hoodie:
-We think.
-A bright sunny day for practice:
-Sunny times for Montreal's P.K. Subban:
-Check out the lid Montreal's Carey Price plans on wearing as a tribute to the legendary Jacques Plante:
-Montreal captain Brian Gionta didn't seem like he was digging the cold:
-Eye-black time for Calgary's Miikka Kiprusoff:
-Check out the gloves Calgary coach Brent Sutter was rocking:
-In the middle of Stampeders country, Calgary defenseman Robyn Regehr was sporting a Saskatchewan Rough Riders lid:
-Team photos:
-A good look at McMahon Stadium:
-The Canadiens beat the Flames, 5-3, in the Heritage Classic alumni game.
-Highlights:
-Check out the lid former Flames goaltender Mike Vernon used for the game:
-What in the world was up with the lid former Flames captain Jim Peplinski was sporting?
-Even Gary Roberts dug Vernon's lid:
-Calgary's Theo Fleury got position in front of Montreal's Eric Fichaud:
-Vernon got down low for this save:
-Not low enough for this puck:
-Happy times for former Flames captain Lanny MacDonald:
-Harvey The Hound helped out the ice crew:
-With captain Miikko Koivu dealing with a hand injury, the Wild recalled forward Cody Almond from Houston of the AHL.
-"I don't think it was a real dirty, dirty hit, but at the same time I think it was unnecessary. The puck was definitely off my stick and I was probably in a bit of a vulnerable position there." - Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis on suffering a concussion after a hit by Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf Feb. 9.
-The Oilers have placed defenseman Sheldon Souray on re-entry waivers. Souray and his $4.5 million salary cap hit have spent the entire season with the AHL's Hershey Bears. The Oilers are hoping another team claims him.
Pacific Division
-The hottest team west of Newark keeps rolling. Ilya Bryzgalov made 30 saves for the Coyotes in a 3-2 win at Nashville. Phoenix has a seven-game winning streak. Martin Erat recorded two assists for the Predators.
-Nashville's Shea Weber and Phoenix's Lauri Korpikoski battling for a puck:
-Funny Face of the Night: Nashville's J.P. Dumont:
-Antti Niemi made 25 saves for the Sharks in a 4-0 shutout of the reeling Avalanche. Devin Setoguchi had his first career hat trick for San Jose while teammate Jason Demers recorded two assists. Colorado has lost 10 consecutive games.
-Setoguchi's hat trick:
-An "umbrella trick?"
-The Coyotes demoted forward Kyle Turris to San Antonio of the AHL and recalled defenseman Nolan Yonkman from San Antonio.
-The Sharks recalled defensemen Justin Braun from Worcester of the AHL and Jason Demers from Stockton of the ECHL and demoted forward Benn Ferriero and defenseman Matt Irwin to Worcester.
-Former Penguins forward Jarkko Ruutu scored a goal in his debut with the Ducks.
Norris Division
-The Cincinnati Cyclones, the Panthers' and Predators ECHL affiliate, made this amazing video:
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-Brooks Ostergard made 39 saves for the Robert Morris men's team in a 5-3 defeat of R.I.T.
-Paul Chiasson had a goal and an assist for the Mercyhurst men's team in a 6-5 loss to Air Force.
(Photos: Crosby-Jamie Sabau/Getty Images; Daley-eBay; Kings/Islanders-Paul Bereswill/Getty Images; Senators/Maple Leafs-Chris Young/Canadian Press and Abelimages/Getty Images; Panthers/Lightning-Chris O'Meara/Associated Press; Ducks/Blues-Bill Boyce/Associated Press; Stars/Canucks-Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press; Canadiens/Flames-Dylan Lynch/Getty Images, Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press and Andre Ringuette/Getty Images; Coyotes/Predators-Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)