Empty Netter Assists - 11-03-12

Penguins

-Sidney Crosby dinged up Matt Cooke's face during informal workouts yesterday.

-The NHL and NHLPA are expected to resume negotiations today.

-Ex-Penguins forward/enforcer Eric Godard (above) announced his retirement at the age of 32. In 335 career NHL games, Godard scored 18 points and racked up 883 penalty minutes. A free agent signing by the Penguins in 2008, Godard, who also played for the Islanders and Flames, spent three seasons in Pittsburgh. In 135 games with the Penguins, he scored 10 points and recorded 352 penalty minutes. He was a member of the 2009 Stanley Cup championship team.

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-Jeff Zatkoff made 33 saves for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 3-0 shutout of the Manchester Monarchs. The Penguins' next game is on the road against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers tomorrow, 3 p.m.

-Highlights courtesty of @EricP55:

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-"The shutout was an added bonus. I had this game circled for a while since I signed in Pittsburgh and saw we were playing here. To come back and play your old team, you want to leave your mark here." - Zatkoff on shutting out his former team.

-Eric Tangradi has goals in four consecutive games.

-Cody Chup scored two goals for the Wheeling Nailers in a 4-3 loss to the Evansville IceMen. The Nailers' next game is on the road against the Cincinnati Cyclones, today, 7:35 p.m.

-The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins demoted defenseman Carl Sneep and forward Denver Manderson to the Nailers.

-Evgeni Malkin had a goal for Metallurg Magnitogork which defeated Vityaz Chekhov, 4-1, in Russia's KHL.

-Highlights:

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-Dustin Jeffrey had a goal for Medvescak Zagreb which beat Dornbirner, 5-2, in Austria's EBEL.

-Happy 43rd birthday to former Penguins forward Jim McKenzie. Acquired at the 1994 trade deadline in a move which sent Mike Needham to the Stars, McKenzie spent parts of two seasons in Pittsburgh. He finished 1993-94 by appearing in 11 games and failing to record a point. During the lockout-shortned 1994-95 season, McKenzie played in 39 games scored three points and compiled 63 points. In the 1995 offseason, he joined the Islanders as a free agent. In 50 games with the Penguins, McKenzie recorded three points.

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Atlantic Division

-The Islanders and the NBA's Nets are going to be interesting roommates at the Barclays Center.

Southeast Division

-Hurricanes defenseman Jamie McBain has joined Pelicans of Finland's SM-liiga for the duration of the lockout.

-Despite the lockout, Capitals defensemen Karl Alzner and John Erksine plan on growing mustaches for "Movember."

Central Division

-“It (stinks). I'm almost in disbelief, obviously disappointed. I think everybody was looking forward to the Winter Classic. It was going to be such a great event, not only for downtown Detroit with all the events, but in Ann Arbor, setting a record attendance." - Red Wings forward Dan Cleary (right) on the Winter Classic - between the Red Wings and Maple Leafs - being canceled.

-"It's starting to feel like '04, and it's a bad feeling." - Red Wings defenseman Ian White comparing the 2004-05 lockout to the current one.

-Red Wings forward Darren Helm suffered a fractured cheek bone during informal workouts yesterday.

Northwest Division

-“I don't really think anything surprises us anymore with the owners in the league. I mean, it's one of those things where I think they have a timeline, or a time limit, or a time plan. They are the ones cancelling things. It's up to them. How far will they go? That's the question we are asking ourselves every day.” - Canucks captain Henrik Sedin on the NHL cancelling the Winter Classic.

Pacific Division

-"We’ve had zero ability to build off what we've done on the ice the last three years because every summer it’s the same: 'Are we leaving? Are we staying? And this time we make it to the conference finals and we generate real excitement and then we get the lockout and we’re talking about staying or leaving again." - Coyotes captain/forward Shane Doan on the team's ownership situation.

Norris Division

-A year after a devastating plane crash, Lokomotiv Yaroslav is succeeding in Russia's KHL.

-Connor Brown scored two goals for the Erie Otters in a 6-3 loss to the Owen Sound Attack.

-Scott Jacklin recorded four assists for the Robert Morris men's team which defeated Bentley, 5-2.

-Max Strang made 28 saves for the Mercyhurst men's team which shut out Sacred Heart, 3-0.

-Christine Bestland had a hat trick and three assists to help the Mercyhurst women's team rout Lindenwood, 6-1.

-Nicole Paniccia made 11 saves and led the Penn State women's team to a 6-0 shutout of Sacred Heart.

(Photos: Godard-Jim McIsaac/Getty Images; Cleary-Al Bello/Getty Images)