Empty Netter Assists - 10-28-12
Penguins
-Marc-Andre Fleury (above) is considering playing in Europe.
-Evgeni Malkin is embracing a rare chance to play for his hometown team in Magnitogorsk, Russia.
-Two goals by Eric Tangradi lifted the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to a 4-1 win against the Syracuse Crunch. Jeff Zatkoff made 34 saves in the victory. The Penguins' next game is on the road against the rival Hershey Bears, 5 p.m.
-Highlights courtesy of @EricP55:
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-The Penguins had to kill seven penalties.
-Shootout goals by Cam Fergus and Stefan Chaput gave the Wheeling Nailers a 3-2 win against the Reading Royals. Paul Cianfrini recorded two assists for Wheeling while teammate Patrick Killeen made 37 saves. The Nailers' next game is at home against the Toledo Walleye, Thursday, 7 p.m.
-Happy 57th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Paul Baxter (right). A third-round pick in 1975, Baxter spent three seasons in Pittsburgh. One of the best antagonists in franchise history, Baxter made his debut with the Penguins in 1980-81. He appeared in 51 games, scored 19 points and managed to lead the team with 204 penalty minutes. The 1981 postseason saw him appear in five games and record on assist. He followed that up in 1981-82 by establishing career-highs in games (76), points (43) and led the NHL with 409 penalty minutes, a mark which remains a franchise record. During that season, five separate players were suspended for a total of 20 games due to incidents involving Baxter. In that spring's playoffs, he saw action in five games and failed to record a point. In 1982-83, Baxter played in 75 games, scored 32 points and compiled 328 penalty minutes, once again, tops on the team. In the 1983 offseason, Baxter joined the Calgary Flames as a free agent. In 202 regular season games, Baxter scored 94 points (88th-most in franchise history) and recorded 851 penalty minutes (fifth-most). In 10 postseason games, Baxter recorded one assist.
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-Happy 33rd birthday to former Penguins defenseman the great Martin Skoula. A free agent signing just prior to the 2009-10 season, Skoula's Penguins career amounted to 33 games and eight points that campaign. At the 2010 trade deadline, Skoula and Luca Caputi were traded to the Maple Leafs in exchange for Alexei Ponikarovsky. Skoula currently plays for HC Lev Praha of Russia's KHL.
-Happy 49th birthday to former Penguins forward Perry Ganchar. Acquired midway through the 1987-88 season from the Canadiens in exchange for future considerations, Ganchar spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. He finished that campaign by appearing in 30 games for the Penguins and scoring seven points. In 1988-89, Ganchar saw action in three games and failed to record a point. He was released in the 1990 offseason. In 33 games for the Penguins, Ganchar recorded seven points.
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Southeast Division
-Lightning goaltender Andres Lindback has joined Ilves of Finland's SM-liiga for the duration of the lockout.
Norris Division
-Former Canadiens/Maple Leafs forward Paul DiPietro has joined Lugano of Switzerland's NLA.
-Connor McDavid scored both of the Erie Otters' goals in a 5-2 loss to the Sarnia Sting.
-Eric Levine made 26 saves for the Robert Morris men's team which lost to Air Force, 4-1.
-Nate Jensen and Mark Yanis each netted a goal and an assist for the Penn State men's team which beat Sacred Heart, 6-3.
-Kesley Thomas recorded a hat trick for the Robert Morris' women's team in a 3-3 tie with Northeastern.
-Two goals by Emily Janiga helped Mercyhurst defeat Minnesota State-Mankato, 3-1.
-Brandon Reinholz scored two goals for the Johnstown Tomahawks in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Kalamazoo Wings.
(Photos: Fleury-Justin K. Aller/Getty Images; Baxter-Penguins Hockey Cards)