Empty Netter Assists - 12-05-11
Penguins
-"Right now, they're the team to beat, not us." - Arron Asham on the Bruins.
-“It’s a good thing for us right now, with where we’re at right now with our team to give us one of the best possible challenges we could have." - Bruins coach Claude Julien on the Penguins.
-The NHL's owner meetings are scheduled to begin today. A vote is expected to be held on re-alignment.
Atlantic Division
-Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro and forward Michael Grabner are day to day due to groin injuries.
Northeast Division
-The NHL is investigating the hit by Predators forward Jordin Tootoo on Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller Saturday:
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-The Canadiens demoted forward Aaron Palushaj to Hamilton of the AHL.
Southeast Division
-The wins and the rats are back for the Panthers.
Central Division
-Red Wings forward Valtteri Filppula left last night's game due to a leg laceration.
Northwest Division
-Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Wellman each had a goal and an assist for the Wild in a 5-3 win against the Ducks. Matt Cullen recorded three assists for Minnesota while teammate Josh Harding made 25 saves. Teemu Selanne netted two assists for Anaheim.
-Goal of the Night: Bouchard roofing a backhander by Anaheim's Jonas Hiller:
-Pass of the Night: Selanne setting up Saku Koivu for a goal:
-Happy times for Koivu and Selanne:
-Check out this pass by Anaheim's Corey Perry to set up captain Ryan Getzlaf for a goal:
-Defensive Play of the Night: Minnesota's Greg Zanon with a diving poke check against Anaheim's Devante Smith-Pelly:
-Minnesota's Brad Staubitz and Anaheim's Jean Francois Jacques had issues:
-Wild forward and former Penguin Nick Johnson scored the game-winning goal and extended a scoring streak to five games.
-Two goals by Ryan O'Reilly helped the Avalanche beat the rival Red Wings, 4-2. Gabriel Landeskog added two assists for Colorado while teammate Semyon Varlamov made 27 saves. Detroit had a seven-game winning streak snapped.
-Check out this rocket of a short-handed one-timer by Colorado's T.J. Galiardi:
-Red Wings forward and former Penguin Chris Conner was stuffed by Varlamov on this shorthanded breakaway attempt:
-Red Wings goaltender and former Penguin Ty Conklin kept his eyes on this puck:
-Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson returned to the lineup after missing five games due to a groin injury.
-David Booth and Christopher Higgins each had a goal and two assists for Vancouver in a 5-1 rout of the rival Flames. Ryan Kesler recorded three assists for Vancouver while teammate Roberto Luongo made 21 saves.
-Hit of the Night: Vancouver's Ryan Kesler on Calgary's Blake Comeau:
-Vancouver's second line of Booth, Higgins and Kesler has been called the "American Express" line.
Pacific Division
-The Coyotes recalled defenseman Chris Summers from Portland of the AHL.
Adams Division
-Do yourself a favor and read this outstanding New York Times article about the late Rangers/Wild forward Derek Boogaard and how he learned to become a fighter.
(Photos: Asham-Justin K. Aller/Getty Images; Wild/Ducks-Harry How/Getty Images; Red Wings/Avalanche-Jack Dempsey/Associated Press)