Empty Netter Assists - 06-13-11
Penguins
-Happy 55th birthday to former Penguins forward Blair Chapman (right). A first-round pick in 1976, Chapman spent parts of four seasons with the Penguins. Appearing in all 80 of the team's games in 1976-77, Chapman recorded 37 points as a rookie. During that spring's postseason, he contributed two points in three games. In 1977-78, he hit the 20-goal mark for the first time by scoring 24 goals and 44 points in 76 games. After recording 18 points in 71 games during the 1978-79 regular season, he scored one goal in seven postseason games that spring. Chapman was traded after one game in 1979-80 to the Blues in exchange for Bob Stewart. In 227 games with the Penguins, Chapman scored 99 points, 82nd-most in franchise history. In 10 postseason games, he recorded four points.
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-Happy 33rd birthday to former Penguins forward Matt Bradley. Acquired at the 2003 trade deadline in a deal which sent Wayne Primeau to the Sharks, Bradley missed the rest of 2002-03 due to a broken wrist. In 2003-04, he appeared in all 82 games and scored 16 points. Following the lockout, he signed with the Capitals. He has spent the past six seasons in Washington.
-Happy 48th birthday to former Penguins forward Randy Gilhen (right). Acquired in the 1989 offseason in a deal along with Jim Kyte and Andrew McBain in a deal which sent Randy Cunneyworth, Rick Tabaracci and Dave McLlwain to the Jets, Gilhen spent two seasons in Pittsburgh. The 1989-90 season saw him play in 61 games and record 16 points. In 1990-91, Gilhen appeared in 72 games and set career highs in goals (15) and points (25). Gilhen played in 16 games that postseason, scored one goal and helped the franchise earn its first Stanley Cup title. In the 1991 offseason, he was claimed by the North Stars through the expansion draft. In 133 regular season games with the Penguins, Gilhen scored 41 points.
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-Happy 36th birthday to former Penguins forward Dave Roche. A third-round pick in 1993, Roche spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. As a rookie in 1995-96, Roche appeared in 71 games and recorded 14 points. In the 1995 postseason, Roche appeared in 16 games and contributed nine points. The 1996-97 season saw Roche appear in 61 games and record 10 points as well as a team-high 155 penalty minutes. After spending the entire 1997-98 campaign with Syracuse of the AHL, Roche was traded in the 1998 offseason to the Flames along with Ken Wregget in exchange for German Titov and Todd Hlushko. In 132 regular season games with the Penguins, Roche recorded 24 points.
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Playoff Stuff
Canucks - Bruins
-“If I could go back, I’d wish he didn’t get hurt. But I don’t think it would change my decision on the play. I’ve got to step up and be physical. It’s just unfortunate.” - Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome on his hit against Bruins forward Nathan Horton in Game 3. Horton suffered a concussion on the hit while Rome was suspended four games.
-“I guess I didn't realize it was my job to pump his tires. I guess I have to apologize for that.” - Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas responding to a comment by Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo who felt Thomas hadn't complimented him enough.
-"Its two Games 7's. Obviously this isn't Game 7, but we have to treat it as a Game 7. When you play desperate, you play urgent, and you compete, that's when you're successful. That's the approach we have to have going into tomorrow." - Bruins forward Gregory Campbell (right) on Game 6.
-Despite having outscored the Canucks 14-6 in the series, the Bruins trail, 3-2.
-The Canucks have flown an estimated 24,378 so far in the playoffs. The Bruins? Just 15,155.
-The Canucks are trying to sell the broadcast rights to their Stanley Cup parade?
-Vancouver city officials estimate they have already spent $1.3 million this spring in overtime for police officers attending to viewing parties for the Canucks' playoff games.
Non-Playoff Stuff
Southeast Division
-The Thrashers franchise will conduct a coaching search and will allow incumbent head coach Craig Ramsay to interview for the position.
(Photos: Chapman and Gilhen-Penguins Hockey Cards; Campbell-Elsa/Getty Images)