Empty Netter Assists - 12-17-11

Penguins

-Dave Molinari's recap from last night's game. Paul Martin left the game due to a "lower-body" injury.

-The Ottawa Citizen's recap. Senators forward Nick Foligno was described as "fine" by head coach Paul MacLean following his knee on knee hit against Simon Despres.

-The Associated Press' recap. Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson recorded his 100th career point.

-NHL.com's recap. "Typically, we're a lot better defensively than that." - Craig Adams.

-Highlights:

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-Happy times for Evgeni Malkin:

-Ottawa's Alex Auld kept his eyes on this puck:

-Painful times for Foligno:

-Dan Bylsma speaks:

-"Seeing what's happened with Sid has opened a lot of people's eyes." - Senators forward Jason Spezza on Sidney Crosby and concussions.

-"He was a student of the game. He asked a lot of questions, so it was no surprise to know he was interested in coaching." - MacLean on Bylsma. MacLean worked as an assistant coach in Anaheim when Bylsma was a member of the Mighty Ducks.

-Do yourself a favor and read this excellent piece by Hockey Hall of Famer Ken Dryden on head injuries.

-Brandon DeFazio had two goals for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 3-2 win against the Syracuse Crunch. Ryan Craig added a goal and an assist for the Penguins while teammate Scott Munroe made 34 saves in the victory.

-Paul Crowder scored two goals for the Wheeling Nailers in a 6-3 loss to the Reading Royals.

-Happy 47th birthday to former Penguisn goaltender Frank Pietrangelo (right). A fourth-round pick in 1983, Pietrangelo spent parts of five seasons with the Penguins. As a rookie in 1987-88, he saw action in 21 games, had a 9-11-0 record with a 3.98 goals against average, .867 save percentage and one shutout. He followed that up in 1988-89 by playing in 15 games, going 5-3-0 with a 4.04 goals against average and a .890 save percentage. During 1989-90, he appeared in 21 games, compiled a record of 8-6-2 and had a 4.33 goals against average and a 867 save percentage. Arguably, Pietrangelo's finest NHL season was 1990-91. He set career highs in games (25) and wins with a 10-11-1 record while sporting a 3.94 goals against average and .880 save percentage. During the 1991 postseason, Pietrangelo stepped up in a big way while spelling injured starter Tom Barrasso. In Game 6 of a Patrick Division semifinal series at New Jersey, Pietrangelo made 27 saves, including a dazzling stop on Devils forward Peter Stastny which simply became known as "The Save" in a 4-3 victory which tied the series, 3-3 (below). In Game 7, Pietrangelo made 27 saves in a 4-0 home shutout victory which clinched the series. All together, Pietrangelo saw action in five games that postseason, went 4-1 and had a 3.12 goals against average, and .899 save percentage and helped the franchise claim its first Stanley Cup title. After five games, a 2-1-0 record, a 5.33 goals against average and .880 save percentage in 1991-92, Pietrangelo was dealt at the trade deadline to the Whalers in exchange for two draft picks. The first player in franchise history to wear No. 40, Pietrangelo appeared in 87 games for the Penguins and had a 34-32-3 record with a 4.13 goals against average, .873 save percentage and one shutout.

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-Happy 28th birthday to former Penguins forward Erik Christensen. A third-round pick in 2002, "Crusher" spent parts of three seasons with the Penguins. As a rookie in 2005-06, Christensen appeared in 33 games and scored 13 points. He followed that up in 2006-07 by playing in 61 games and recording 33 points. He saw action in four postseason games that spring and failed to score a point. After 49 games and 20 points in 2007-08, Christensen was at the trade deadline along with Colby Armstrong, Angelo Esposito and a draft pick to the Thrashers in exchange for Pascal Dupuis and Marian Hossa. In 143 regular season games with the Penguins, Christensen scored 66 points. Arguably the greatest shootout artist in franchise history, Christensen's success rate of 60.9 (14 for 23) percent is the best in franchise history among those with more than five shot attempts. Christensen is currently a member of the Rangers.

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-Happy 32nd birthday to former Penguins forward Matt Murley. A second-round pick in 1999, Murley spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. As a rookie in 2003-04, Murley appeared in 18 games and scored two points. Following the 2004-05 lockout, Murley saw action in 41 games in 2005-06 and scored six points. In the 2006 offseason, Murley joined the Avalanche as a free agent. In 59 games with the Penguins, Murley scored 11 points. He currently plays for Timrå of the Elitserien in Sweden.

Atlantic Division

-Captain Zach Parise had a goal and three assists for the Devils in a 6-3 win against the Stars. Former Penguin Petr Sykora, Patrick Elias and Ilya Kovalchuk each contributed a goal and an assist for New Jersey while teammate Adam Larsson recorded two assists. Fire Ray Shero. Former Penguin Johan Hedberg made 33 saves in the win.

-Pass of the Night: Larsson setting up Parise for a re-direction:

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-Defensive Play of the Night: New Jersey's Bryce Salvador with a "save" against Dallas' Loui Eriksson:

-Devils forward Travis Zajac returned to the lineup after suffering an Achilles tendon injury in the offseason.

-Happy times in New Jersey:

-Prior to the game, the Devils retired the No. 27 of former captain Scott Niedermayer:

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-Happy times for Niedermayer:

-"Well, I guess you'd have to say yeah. Chris is 37 years old. I'm a glass-half-full kind of guy, so I hope for the best all the time. We'll see how it goes." - Flyers general manager Mike Holmgren on if captain Chris Pronger's concussion could be career threatening.

-The Flyers assigned defenseman Andreas Lilja to Adirondack of hte AHL on a conditioning assignment.

-The Rangers demoted defenseman Tim Erixon to Connecticut of the AHL.

Northeast Division

-Two goals and two assists by Thomas Vanek led the Sabres to a 5-4 win against the rival Maple Leafs. Tyler Ennis had a goal and an assist for Buffalo while captain Jason Pominville recorded two assists. Ryan Miller made 29 saves in the win.

-Check out this steal by Buffalo's Zack Kassian which led to a pass to set up Thomas Vanek for a goal:

-Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf was given a game misconduct for this hit from behind on Kassian in the second period:

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-Check out this hit by Toronto's Tyler Bozak on Buffalo's Tyler Ennis:

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-Toronto's Luke Schenn > Ennis

-The Canadiens fired head coach Jacques Martin. Former Penguins forward Randy Cunneyworth will replace him on an interim basis.

Southeast Division

-Shootout goals by Dmitry Kulikov and Stephen Weiss gave the Panthers a 3-2 win against the Flames. Sean Bergenheim had two regulation goals for Florida while teammate Shawn Matthias and Mikael Samuelsson each recorded two assists. Jose Theodore made 24 saves in the victory. Olli Jokinen had a goal and an assist for for Calgary.

-Save of the Night: Calgary's Leland Irving denying Sean Bergenheim on a reboud despite losing his stick:

-The Jets demoted forward Carl Klingberg to St. John's of the AHL.

Central Division

-Former Penguin Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp each had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks in a 4-1 defeat of the Ducks. Ray Emery made 24 saves in the win.

-Goal of the Night: Check out this snipe of a goal by Chicago's Patrick Sharp:

-Hit of the Night: Chicago's Jamal Mayers on Anaheim's Cam Fowler:

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-Happy times in Chicago:

-Blackhawks forward Daniel Carcillo is dealing with an "upper-body" injury.

-The Red Wings demoted forward Tomas Tatar to Grand Rapids of the AHL.

-NHL discipline czar Brendan Shanahan had a face-to-face meeting with the Red Wings Wednesday. Shanahan is expecting to make the rounds with all 30 NHL teams.

-The Predators demoted forward Kyle Wilson to Milwaukee of the AHL.

Northwest Division

-The Oilers demoted forward Magnus Paajarvi to Oklahoma City of the AHL.

-The Wild activated goaltender Josh Harding (whiplash) from injured reserve, recalled forward Jarod Palmer from Houston of the AHL and demoted goaltender Matt Hackett to Houston.

-What are the infamous Vancouver riot "Kissers" up to these days?

Pacific Division

-Ducks forward Teemu Selanne (right) will make his return to Winnipeg tonight.

-Stars forward Tomas Vincour (knee) and defenseman Philip Larsen ("lower-body") are dinged up.

-The Ducks recalled Nick Bonino from Syracuse of the AHL and demoted forward Brandon McMillan to Syracuse.

Norris Division

-NBC/CBC broadcaster Mike Milbury was charged with assaulting a 12-year-old son who got into an altercation with his son in Brookline, Mass.

(Photos: Penguins/Sabres-Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images; Pietrangelo-Penguins Hockey Cards; Stars/Devils-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Maple Leafs/Sabres-Rick Stewart/Getty Images; Ducks/Blackhawks-Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images; Selanne-Al Bello/Allsport/Getty Images)