Empty Netter Assists - 04-07-12
Penguins
-Brooks Orpik (above) was not disciplined for his knee-on-knee hit against Rangers forward Derek Stepan.
-Sidney Crosby had a few things to say about his critics.
-Speaking of the devil, Rangers coach John Tortorella's wallet is $20,000 lighter.
-Welcome back Gilmore Tuttle Steve MacIntyre.
-“No, we’re going in there to win a game." - Flyers coach Peter Laviolette on if his team would rest players for today's game.
-Crosby speaks:
-Dan Byslma speaks:
-Kris Letang speaks:
-Matt Cooke speaks:
-Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo! debunks the myth of Crosby being a whiner.
-The draft lottery for the 14 non-playoff teams will be held Tuesday.
-A goal and an assist by Ben Street led the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to a 4-2 win against the rival Hershey Bears. Brad Thiessen made 22 saves in the win.
-Patrick Killeen made 20 saves for the Wheeling Nailers in a 5-1 loss to the Kalamazoo Wings in Game 3 of their Kelly Cup Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. The Wings lead the best-of-five series, 2-1.
-Happy 45th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Jim Paek (right). The first Korean-born player in NHL history, Paek was a ninth-round pick of the Penguins in 1985 and spent parts of four seasons with the club. After appearing in three regular season games and failing to score a point in 1990-91, Paek saw action in eight postseason contests that spring and scored one goal while helping the franchise win the Stanley Cup for the first time. He followed that up in 1991-92 by playing in 49 games and collecting eight points. He would play in 19 playoff games that spring and collected four assists while also earning his second Stanley Cup ring. During 1992-93, Paek set career highs in games (77) and points (18) while helping the Penguins claim the only Presidents Trophy in franchise history. After 41 games and four points in 1993-94, Paek and Marty McSorely were traded to the Kings in exchange for Tomas Sandstrom and Shawn McEachern. In 170 regular season games with the Penguins, Paek scored 30 points. In 27 postseason games, he scored five points. He is currently an assistant coach with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL.
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-Happy 54th birthday to former Penguins forward Ted Nolan. Acquired in the 1985 offseason from the Sabres in exchange for cash, Nolan appeared in 18 games for the 1985-86 Penguins and recorded two points. He was released in the 1986 offseason. A former coach with the Sabres and Islanders, Nolan is currently the coach of Latvia's national team.
-Happy 33rd birthday to current Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis (right). Acquired at the 2008 trade deadline along with Marian Hossa in a deal which sent Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Esposito and a draft pick to the Thrashers, Dupuis has spent parts of four seasons with the Penguins. He finished 2007-08 by appearing 16 games and scoring 12 points for the Penguins. During the 2008 postseason, he appeared in 20 games, contributed seven points and helped the team reach the Stanley Cup final for the first time in 16 years. In 2008-09, Dupuis saw action in 71 games and recorded 28 points. He would appear in 16 postseason games that spring and appeared to score a point but helped the franchise claim its third Stanley Cup championship. During 2009-10, Dupuis played in 81 games and contributed 38 points. He would play in 13 games during the 2010 postseason and scored eight point, including the series clinching overtime goal of a 4-3 win against the Senators in Game 6 of an Eastern Conference quarterfinal series (below). In 2010-11, Dupuis has appeared in 81 games and scored 37 points. He saw action in seven postseason games last spring and scored one goal. This season, Dupuis has appeared in all 81 games and has set career highs in goals (24) and points (58). In 330 regular season games with the Penguins, "Duper" has scored 173 points, 41th-most in franchise history. In 569 postseason games, he has scored 16 points.
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Atlantic Division
-Rangers forward Derek Stepan did not practice a day after he was hit by Orpik.
-"We have an opportunity to go for the trophy. The little one. The first one." - Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist on his team having a chance to win the Presidents' Trophy.
-The Flyers re-signed defenseman Nicklas Grossman (right) to a four-year contract extension worth a total of $14 million. The contract will have a salary cap hit of $3.5 million. Acquired from the Stars in a deal prior to the trade deadline, Grossman, 27, is in the final year of a contract with a salary cap hit of $1.625 million. In 74 games this season, Grossmann has 11 assists.
-EN Says: This is a shrewd signing. With Chris Pronger's future questionable at best, the Flyers need some size and that's what Grossman offers at 6-foot-4 and 230 points. Grossman is a reliable player in his own end and someone who blocks shots like he's a puck magnet. Beyond that, he offers little in terms of offense. He is a reliable top-four defensive defenseman capable of logging 20 minutes a game.
-The Flyers recalled forward recalled Harry Zolnierczyk from Adirondack of the AHL.
-With forward David Clarkson dealing with a "lower-body" injury, the Devils officially recalled forward Brian Gionta from Albany of the AHL.
-Islanders defenseman and former Penguin Mark Eaton is dealing with an "upper-body" injury.
Northeast Division
-Senators forward Chris Neil (right) suffered an undisclosed injury during practice.
-The Senators signed defenseman Ben Blood, a fourth-round pick in 2007, to a two-year entry-level contract.
-The Sabres demoted forwards Marcus Foligno and Corey Tropp to Rochester of the AHL.
-The Bruins demoted forward Lane MacDermid to Providence of the AHL.
-The Maple Leafs demoted forward Carter Ashton to Toronto of the AHL.
Southeast Division
-The Panthers can claim the first division title in franchise history with a win against the Hurricanes today.
-With goaltenders Tomas Vokoun ("lower body") and Michal Neuvirth (left leg) each injured, the Capitals recalled former Penguins goaltender Dany Sabourin from Hershey of the AHL.
-With one-game remaining, Lightning forward Steven Stamkos needs one goal to reach the 60-goal mark. He would be only the second player in 15 seasons to reach the mark.
Central Division
-Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews (right) will miss the regular season finale against the Red Wings due to a concussion. He has missed the past 21 games.
-With captain Rick Nash dealing with a back injury, the Blue Jackets recalled forward Maksim Mayorov from Springfield of the AHL.
-The Blue Jackets signed defenseman Will Weber, a second-round pick in 2007, to a two-year entry-level contract.
Northwest Division
-Wild defenseman Nate Prosser was suspended one game for headbutting Blackhawks forward Jamal Mayers Thursday:
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-The Wild demoted forward Tyler Cuma to Houston of the AHL.
-"To be honest with you, I feel like I let people down." - Wild coach and former Penguins assistant Mike Yeo on his first season an an NHL coach.
Pacific Division
-Mikkel Boedkker had a goal and an assist for the Coyotes who defeated the the Blues, 4-1. Antoine Vermette recorded two assists for Phoenix while teammate Mike Smith made 31 saves.
-Hit of the Night: St. Louis' Matt D'Agostini versus Phoenix's Oliver Ekman-Larsson:
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-Coyotes defenseman and former Penguin Michal Rozsival had issues with St. Louis' Jamie Langenbrunner:
-The Stars recalled defensemen Brenden Dillon, Jordie Benn and forward Scott Glennie from Texas of the AHL.
-"If the officials had seen the actions of Ryan Clowe it would have definitely been a two-minute interference penalty. It was obviously a missed call." - NHL executive Colin Campbell on a play by Sharks forward Ryane Clowe where he stuck his stick over the bench to break up an offensive rush by the Kings in the third period. Officials did not call a penalty.
-The play in question:
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Smythe Division
-Minnesota-Duluth forward Jack Connolly was awarded the Hobey Baker Award.
(Photos: Orpik and Neil-Jamie Sabau/Getty Images; Paek-Penguins Hockey Cards; Dupuis-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Grossman-Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images; Toews-Jeff Gross/Getty Images; Coyotes/Blues-Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)