Empty Netter Assists - 10-13-12
Penguins
-Deryk Engelland (right) has joined RIHK of Norway's Get-ligaen for the duration of the lockout.
-Robert Bortuzzo and Brian Strait wanted to be in the NHL this season. That's going to have to wait.
-The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins recalled Adam Payerl from the Wheeling Nailers.
-The AHL Penguins open their season tonight on the road against the Binghamton Senators.
-The Nailers open their season tonight on the road against the Cincinnati Cyclones.
-The Nailers signed forward Alex Belzile.
-Dustin Jeffrey made his debut and recorded two assists for Medvescak Zagreb in a 2-1 defeat of HC Orli Znojmo in an EBEL game yesterday.
-Happy 51st birthday to former Penguins forward Darren Lowe. The first black player in franchise history, Lowe joined the team as a free agent midway through the 1983-84 season. In that campain, he appeared in eight games and scored five points. He was released in the 1984 offseason. He is currently the head coach of the University of Toronto's men's team.
-Happy 56th birthday to former Penguins forward Rod Schutt (right). Acquired early in the 1978-79 season in a deal which sent a draft pick to the Canadiens, Schutt spent parts of six seasons in Pittsburgh. In 1978-79, while primarily playing on a line with Peter Lee and Greg Malone, Schutt played in 74 games and scored 24 goals and 45 points. In that spring's playoffs, he saw action in seven games and netted two goals. He followed that up in 1979-80 by collecting 39 points in 73 games. The 1980 playoffs saw him play in five games and score three points. Schutt's best season was 1980-81. He set a career-highs in games (80), goals, (25), assists (35) and points (60). In that spring's playoffs, Schutt appeared in five games and netted six points. In 1981-82, Schutt was limited to 35 games and 21 points. He would appear in five playoff games that spring and score three points. Schutt only appeared in five games in 1982-83 and failed to score a point. Schutt's final season in Pittsburgh was 1983-84. Once again, he was limited to 11 games and four points. After spending the entire 1984-85 season with Muskegon of the IHL, Schutt joined the Maple Leafs as a free agent in the 1985 offseason. In 278 regular season games with the Penguins, Schutt scored 169 points, 46th-most in franchise history. In 22 postseason games, Schutt netted 14 points.
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Northeast Division
-The Sabres unveiled a statue at First Niagara Center of the famed French Connection line to honor Rick Martin, Gilbert Perreault and Rene Robert:
Northwest Division
-Canucks forward Dale Weise has joined the Tillburg Trappers of Holland's Eredivisie for the duration of the lockout.
-By way of his Twitter account, Canucks forward David Booth hunted and killed... whatever this thing is:
Pacific Division
-Former Pittsburgh Forge goaltender Peter Mannino signed with the Manchester Monarchs, the Kings' AHL affiliate.
Patrick Division
-Nathan MacKinnon might not be the next Sidney Crosby, but he's on track to be the next hockey star from Cole Harbour, N.S.
-Matthew Skoff made 26 saves for the Penn State men's team which fell to American International, 3-2. It was the first game in the history of the Nittany Lions' program.
-Christie Cicero and Molly Byrne each scored two goals for the Mercyhurst women's team which defeated Providence, 6-3.
-Brandon Reinholz and Ian Spencer each had a goal and an assist for the Johnstown Tomahawks in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Soo Eagles.
-Connor Brown scored two goals for the Erie Otters who fell to Guelph Storm, 6-3.
(Photos: Engelland-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Schutt-Penguins Hockey Cards; Sabres-Gary Wiepert/Associated Press)