Empty Netter Assists - Western Conference - 1-3-09

Central Division

-Rick Nash (right, with goaltender Steve Mason) had a goal and three assists for the Blue Jackets who routed the the Avalanche, 6-1. Teammate Kristian Huselius added two assists while Mike Commodore had a goal and an assist. Mason made 23 saves and gave up his first goal in three games. He stinks.

-The Blue Jackets recalled forward Maksim Mayorov from Syracuse of the AHL.

-Red Wings forward Tomas Kopecky was upset about being scratched from the Winter Classic.

-Detroit defenseman Brett Lebda, a native of Chicago, got to see what Wrigley Field is like inside the fence for once.

-Ratings for the Winter Classic increased by 12 percent.

-This is why we really dislike playing the Winter Classic on New Year's Day; Michigan State's bowl game drew better ratings than the Winter Classic in "Hockeytown."

-Reebok's Web site crashed during the Winter Classic during its "find the logo contest."

-The Blackhawks are moving on from all the hype surrounding Thursday's game.

-Chicago doesn't have to worry about the Red Wings for a few months.

-After winning in the Winter Classic, Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios (right) tied hall-of-famer Scott Stevens for being on a winning team in regular season play. Chelios and Stevens each have 879 wins.

-Could Predators forward Steve Sullivan return to the lineup Monday? A back injury has shelved him since the 2006-07 season.

-Nashville defenseman Ryan Suter is maturing in many ways.

Northwest Division

-Marian Gaborik will be out 6-to-10 weeks following hip surgery.

-Gaborik's injury really screws up the Wild.

-Hopefully you didn't preorder that Gaborik/Minnesota jersey.

-The Flames demoted forward Brett Sutter to Quad City of the AHL.

-Calgary defenseman Rhett Warrener is considering retirement.

-Canucks defenseman Mattias Ohlund is dealing with an "upper-body" injury.

Pacific Division

-Zbynek Michalek had a goal and an assist to help the Coyotes edge the Islanders, 5-4. Doug Weight had two assists and recorded his 1,000th career point. Former Penguins forward Richard Park had two goals and an assist for New York. Fire Craig Patrick.

-The Sharks recalled defenseman Derek Joslin from Worcester of the AHL and demoted forward Jamie McGinn.

-San Jose forward Milan Michalek is finally putting it all together for the Sharks.

-Stars forward Brad Richards (right) has been ripping up the ice as of late.

-Leave it to the Flyers to help the Ducks set a single-game attendance record.

Adams Division

-Slovakia upset the United States in the World Junior Championships, 3-2.

-Don Sanderson, a defenseman in the Ontario Hockey Association, died from injuries resulting in an on-ice fight.

(Photos: Nash and Mason-David Zalubowski/Associated Press; Chelios-Jamie Squire/Getty Images; Richards-Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)