Empty Netter Assists - 03-08-11

Penguins

-Why hasn't Dustin Jeffrey (above) spent more of the season in the NHL (PG+)?

-Crosby has a concussion... Taylor Crosby.

-Dan Bylsma speaks:

-Eric Godard celebrates a birthday:

-The Pengins are good people:

-Happy 50th birthday to former Penguins all-star defenseman Larry Murphy. Acquired midway through the 1990-91 season along with Peter Taglianetti in a trade that sent Chris Dahlquist and Jim Johnson to the North Stars, Murphy spent parts of five seasons with the Penguins. He finished 1990-81 by appearing in 44 games and scoring 28 points. Murphy recorded 23 points in 23 playoff games in 1991 and helped the Penguins claim their first Stanley Cup title. In 1991-92, Murphy recorded 77 points in 77 games. During the 1992-93 campaign, Murphy appeared in 21 games and netted 16 points while helping the franchise claim its second consecutive Stanley Cup title. The 1992-93 season saw Murphy (right) set a career high for points when he netted 85 in 73 games and helped the Penguins claim the President's Trophy. In 12 postseason game that spring, Murphy recorded 13 points. During 1993-94, Murphy had 73 points in 84 games. Murphy played in six postseason games that spring and recorded five assists. His final season in Pittsburgh saw him net 38 points in 48 games in the lockout-shortened 1994-95 campaign. During the 1995 postseason, Murphy saw action in 12 games and scored 13 points. In the 1995 offseason, the Penguins traded Murphy to the Maple Leafs in exchange for Dimitri Mironov and a draft pick. Murphy retired as a player following the 2000-01 season and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004. A three-time all-star, Murphy is fifth all-time among defensemen with 1,216 career points. In 336 games with the Penguins, he recorded 301 points, 22nd most in frachise history. In 74 postseason games, he had 72 points, seventh-most in franchise history. Murphy is currently a broadcaster with the Red Wings and NHL Network.

-Happy 55th birthday to former Penguins forward and scout Greg Malone (right). A second-round pick in 1976, Malone spent seven seasons with the Penguins as a player. As a rookie in 1976-77, Malone appeared in 66 games and scored 37 points. In three postseason games that spring, he recoreded two points. He followed that up in 1977-78, Malone saw action in 78 games and scored 61 points. In 1978-79, Malone appeared in a career high 80 games in led the team with 35 goals and 65 points. During that season's playoffs, he played in seven games and recorded one assists. Malone was limited to 51 games and 51 points in 1979-80. In 1980-81, he played in 62 games and netted 50 points. During the 1981 postseason, he played in five games and scored five points. Malone appeared in 78 games in 1981-82 and recorded 39 points. In three postseason games that spring, he failed to record a point. Malone's final season with the Penguin as a player was 1982-83. He appeared in all 80 games and scored 61 points. Prior to the 1983-84 season, he was traded to the Whalers in exchange for a draft pick. In 495 games with the Penguins, Malone recorded 364 points, 14th most in franchise history. In 18 postseason games, he scored eight points. Following his retirement as a player, Malone, the father of former Penguins forward Ryan Malone, became a scout with the Penguins and eventually became the franchise's head scout, a position he held through 2006. He currently serves as a scout for the Lightning.

{youtube width="480" height="390"}6DDeMrMyBpI{/youtube}

-Happy 40th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Bob Boughner. Acquired from the Predators at the 2000 trade deadline in a deal which sent Pavel Skrbek to Nashville, Boughner spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. He finished 1999-2000 by playing in 11 games and scoring one goal along with recording 69 penalty minutes. He appeared in 11 postseason games that spring and recorded two assists. His most notable moment as a Penguin occured during those playoffs when he injured Flyers forward Keith Primeau with a thunderous check to the head in an Eastern Conference semifinal series. He followed that up in 2000-01 by playing in 58 games, scoring four points and recording 147 penalty minutes. In 18 postseason games that spring, he recorded one assist. During the 2001 postseason games he joined the Flames as a free agent. In 69 regular season games with the Penguins, he recorded five points and 216 penalty minutes. In 29 postseason games, he recorded three assists. Boughner is currently an assistant coach with the Blue Jackets.

-Happy 68th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Tracy Pratt (right). Acquired midway through the 1968-69 season along with George Swarbrick and Bryan Watson in a trade that sent Earl Ingarfield, Gene Ubriaco and Dick Mattiussi to the Oakland Seals, Pratt spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. He finished 1968-69 by playing in 18 games for the Penguins and recording five assist. In 1969-70, Pratt played in 65 games and scored 12 points. In 10 potseason games that spring, he recorded one assist and 51 penalty minutes. During that postseason, Pratt set a single-game record which still stands for penalty minutes in a postseason game with 32. In the 1970 offseason, he was claimed by the Sabres in the expansion draft. In 83 games with the Penguins Pratt had 17 points and 158 penalty minutes.

-Happy 46th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Mike Rowe. A third-round pick in 1983, Rowe spent parts of three seasons with the Pengins. As a rookie in 1984-85, he appeared in six games and failed to record a point. In 1985-86, Rowe played in three games and did not score a point. His final NHL season was 1986-87. He saw action in two games and failed to record a point. After spending all of 1987-88 with the Penguin's IHL affiliate in Muskegon, Rowe joined the Whitley Warriors in Britain during the 1988 offseason. In 11 games with the Penguins, Rowe failed to record a point.

Atlantic Division

-With a victory tonight against the Senators, the Devils can reach the .500 mark for the first time this season.

-With defenseman Radek Martinek recovered from a "lower-body" injury, the Islanders demoted defenseman Ty Wishart to Bridgeport of the AHL.

Northeast Division

-“Revenge is winning." - Canadiens defenseman and former Penguin Charlie Sheen Hal Gill (right) on facing the Bruins tonight for the first time since an 8-6 loss to Boston Feb. 9.

-Gill has goals in two consecutive games. Fire Ray Shero.

-Senators forward Milan Michalek (foot) and Peter Regin (shoulder) will miss the rest of the season.

Southeast Division

-Scoreboard Watch for the Penguins: Captain Alex Ovechkin's shootout goal gave the Capitals a 2-1 win at Tampa Bay. Braden Holtby made 21 saves in the victory. The Capitals are in third place in the Eastern Conference with 84 points, just as many as the fourth-place Penguins. The Lightning is in fifth place with 82 points.

-Ovechkin's goal:

-Check out this laser of a goal by Washington's Alexander Semin:

{youtube width="480" height="300"}3CtKuRVmeWY{/youtube}

-Check out this ridiculous save by Holtby on Tampa Bay's Simon Gagne:

-Ovechkin being popular:

-"The referee has to make an instantaneous decision. Unfortunately, he got it wrong." - Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman on a third periodgoaltenders interference call which eliminated a goal by captain Vincent Lecavalier. The Lightning would have had a 2-0 lead.

-Before the game, Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau got around to accusing Lightning forwards Steve Downie and Steven Stamkos of diving.

-“We need to be desperate. Every night should have a playoff mentality. If we don’t, we are going to be out. We need that desperation.” - Thrashers goaltender Chris Mason on his team's playoff hopes.

-The Panthers recalled forward Tim Kennedy from Rochester of the AHL.

-The Lightning signed forward Tyler Johnson to a three-year entry-level contract.

Central Division

-Shootout goals by T.J. Oshie, Andy McDonald and Alex Steen gave the Blues a 5-4 win against the Blue Jackets. McDonald had two goals in regulation while teammate Patrik Berglund added a goal and an assist in regulation. Ben Bishop made 19 saves in the victory. Jakub Voracek netted a goal and an assist in regulation for Columbus.

-Fight of the Night: Columbus' Jared Boll versus. St. Louis' Cam Janssen:

{youtube width="480" height="300"}78PmVA5dE0I{/youtube}

-Prior to the game, the Blues honored four players who wore No. 7 for the franchise - Red Berensen, Garry Unger, Joe Mullen and Keith Tkachuk:

-Funny Face of the Night: Columbus' Derek Dorsett:

-The Blues recalled forward T.J. Hensick from Peoria of the AHL.

Northwest Division

-With forward Mason Raymond dealing with a shoulder injury, the Canucks recalled forward Victor Oreskovich from Manitoba of the AHL.

Pacific Division

-An overtime goal by captain Brenden Morrow gave the Stars a 4-3 win at Los Angeles. Teammate Mike Ribeiro netted a goal and two assists while former Penguin Alex Goligoski recorded two assists. Fire Ray Shero. Kari Lehtonen made 20 saves in the victory. Justin Williams had a goal and an assist for the Kings.

-Check out this shorthanded goal by Dallas' Jamie Benn:

-Happy times for Goligoski and Morrow:

-We don't want to question the skating ability of Dallas' Adam Burish, but...:

-The Ducks recalled goaltender Ray Emery from Syracuse of the AHL and demoted goaltender J.P. Levasseur to Syracuse.

-The Sharks recalled forward Andrew Desjardins from Worcester of the AHL and demoted forward John McCarthy to Worcester.

Smythe Division

-Today is the seventh anniversary of former Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi's attack on former Avalanche forward Steve Moore.

(Photos: Jeffrey and Murphy-Justin K. Aller/Getty Images; Malone-Getty Images; Pratt-Penguins Hockey Cards; Gill-Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images; Capitals/Lightning-Mike Carlson/Associated Press; Blue Jackets/Blues-Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images; Stars/Kings-Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)