Empty Netter Assists - 10-10-11

Penguins

-Shelly Anderson's recap from last night's game. "We let them stick around too long. We didn't bury our chances we had." - Tyler Kennedy.

-The Edmonton Journal's recap. Welcome to the NHL Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

-The Associated Press' recap. Oilers coach Tom Renney is 8-0-0 in home openers.

-NHL.com's recap. "I certainly like five (points) out of six." - Dan Bylsma.

-Highlights:

-Ben Lovejoy getting chased by Edmonton's Jordan Eberle:

-Edmonton's Ryan Smyth is popular:

-As is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins:

-Pregame ceremonies in Winnipeg:

-Bylsma speaks:

-Brent Johnson speaks:

-James Neal speaks:

-Dan Bylsma had no problem with the hit by Calgary's Cory Sarich against Matt Cooke Saturday.

-"I wasn't trying to hit him illegally. I was just trying to keep it clean. I think the hit was . . . embellished a little bit." - Sarich.

-Steve MacIntyre wants to take Sidney Crosby hunting.

-Scott Munroe made 23 saves for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 1-0 shootout loss to the Connecticut Whale.

-Munroe was given credit for a shutout.

-Happy 49th birthday to former Penguins goaltender Roberto Romano (right). A free agent signing midway through the 1982-83 season, Romano spent parts of six seasons with the Penguins in two seperate stints. As a rookie in 1982-83, he saw action in three games - all losses - and had a 6.97 goals against average. In 1983-84, Romano appeared in 18 games, had a 6-11-0 record, a 4.59 goals against average, a .876 save percerntage and one shutout. Platooning with Denis Herron in 1984-85, Romano played in 31 games, went 9-17-2, had a 4.42 goals against average, .877 save percentage and one shutout. Romano's only season as the team's primary starter was 1985-86. He played in 46 games, had a 21-20-3 record, a 3.55 goals against average, .886 save percentage and two shutouts. After 25 games, a 9-12-2 record, a 3.72 goals against average and .876 save percentage in 1986-87, Romano was traded to the Bruins in exchange for Pat Riggin. After bouncing around the AHL and Italy, Romano returned to the Penguins in 1993-94 by appearing in two games, going 1-0-1 with a 1.44 goals against average and .946 save percentage. He retired in the 1994 offseason. In 125 games with the Penguins, Romano was 46-62-8 with a 3.96 goals against average and recorded four shutouts.

-Happy 65th birthday to former Pittsburgh Hornets and Penguins forward Pete Mahovlich (right). Acquired early in the 1977-78 season along with Peter Lee in a deal which sent Pierre Larouche and future considerations to the Canadiens, Mahovlich spent two seasons in Pittsburgh. In 1977-78, he saw action in 57 games and finished second on the team with 61 points. That season, he actually recorded a hat trick in his first game with the team, a 6-4 win against the Red Wings. He followed that up in 1978-79 by playing in 60 games and netting 53 points. In that spring's postseason, Mahovlich appeared in two games and recorded one assist. During the 1979 offseason, Mahovlich was traded to the Red Wings in exchange for Nick Libett. In 117 regular season games for the Penguins, Mahovlich scored 114 points, 66th most in franchise history.

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-Happy 51st birthday to former Penguins forward Ron Flockhart. Acquired prior to the 1983-84 season along with Andy Brickley, Mark Taylor and draft picks in a deal which sent Rich Sutter and draft picks to the Flyers, Flockhard spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. In 1983-84, he appeared in 68 games and scored 45 points. After 12 games and five assists in 1984-85, Flockhart was traded to the Canadiens in exchange for John Chabot. in 70 games with the Penguns, Flockhart scored 50 points.

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-Happy 39th birthday to former Penguins forward Brian Holzinger. Acquired at the 2003 trade deadline in a deal which sent Marc Bergevin to the Lightning, Holzinger spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. He finished the 2002-03 season by appearing in nine games and scoring three points for the Penguins. In 2003-04, Holzinger saw action in 61 games and scored 21 points. At the 2004 trade deadline, Holzinger was traded to the Blue Jackets in exchange for Lasse Pirjeta. One of six natives of Ohio to play for the Penguins (Ab DeMarco, Moe Mantha, Ian Moran, Mike Rupp and Bryan Smolinski were the others), Holzinger played in 70 games for the Penguins and scored 24 points. Holzinger is also one of four former Hobey Baker Award winners to play for the Penguins. Brian Bonin, Jordan Leopold and Kip Miller are the others.

Atlantic Division

-The NHL returned forward Blair Betts to the Flyers after he was claimed off waviers from the Canadiens. Betts failed a physical with the Canadiens. Philadelphia also placed forward Ian Laperriere (head) on long-term injured reserve.

-The Rangers demoted defenseman Brendan Bell to Connecticut of the AHL and returned goaltender Scott Stajcer to Owen Sound of the OHL.

Northeast Division

-A goal and two assists by Tomas Plekanec led the Canadiens to a 5-1 defeat of the Jets in the first game in Winnipeg in over 15 years. Travis Moen and Yannick Weber each added a goal and an assist for Montreal while Carey Price made 30 saves in the victory.

-Goal of the Day: Plekanec with a steal of Atlanta's Johnny Oduya and the snipe by Winnipeg's Ondrej Pavelec:

-Nik Antropov scored the Jets' first goal:

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-Montreal's Mike Cammalleri suffered an ugly-looking laceration on his leg during the game:

-Opening faceoff at the MTS Centre:

-Cool Photo of the Day: Winnipeg's Zach Bogosian taking the ice:

-Hockey back in Winnipeg:

-The Bruins took the Stanley Cup to the Patriots game yesterday:

-The Senators will open their season Tuesday against the Wild and public enemy No. 1 Dany Heatley.

Southeast Division

-Hockey Night in Canada's pregame montage for the first game in Winnipeg:

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-"I keep getting asked the question in many different ways, shapes and forms and I don't know how to answer it, to be honest with you. I have tough time articulating or describing how everybody is feeling and how I'm feeling." - Jets co-owner Mark Chipman.

-NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was actually cheered in Winnipeg.

-Prior to the game, the Jets paid tribute to forward Rick Rypien who passed away this summer:

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Central Division

-Will Gibsonia native Brandon Saad spend the entire season with the Blackhawks?

Northwest Division

-Wild forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard was suspended two games for high sticking Blue Jackets forward Matt Calvert in the mouth Saturday:

-Bouchard's agent, Allen Walsh, referred to the discipline system of NHL executive Brendan Shananahan as a "kanagroo court."

-“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t the biggest challenge I’ve faced, but it’s not something I’m going to sit back and shy away from." - Oilers defenseman Taylor Fedun on his recovery from a broken femur.

Pacific Division

-Ducks coach Cory Perry isn't terribly upset with forward and Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry fighting.

(Photos: Penguins/Oilers-Ian Jackson/Canadian Press and Dale MacMillan/Getty Images; Romano and Mahovlich-Penguins Hockey Cards; Canadiens/Jets-Marianne Helm/Getty Images)