Empty Netter Assists - Eastern Conference - 1-7-09

Penguins

-Dave Molinari's recap from last night's game. Ryan Whitney and company felt good after the win.

-The Atlanta Journal-Consitution's recap. The Thrashers didn't bother showing up until the third period. (Kudos to Mike Knobler from the AJC for buying us Primanti's after the game and listening to our Mark Eaton for Ilya Kovalchuk trade ideas. That's a fair deal right?)

-The Associated Press' recap. The Penguins looked like a Stanley Cup finalist for once.

-Some readers over at The PensBlog spotted two... um... passionate fans during last night's broadcast:

-Is that guy in the Sidney Crosby jersey applauding a goal or the kiss?

-EN reader Dave Coutts sent us a few more photos from last night's game:

-It's a little blurry, but here's Sidney Crosby and his buddy Colby Armstrong working out some issues:

-Dave's wife Lu got a puck:

-Thrashers defenseman Tobias Enstrom apparently had some problems with the placement of the net:

-Should Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin be separated on the power play?

-Former Penguins forward Craig Simpson says Michel Therrien's job is in jeopardy.

-Chris Minard will play in the AHL All-Star game.

-Bryan Ewing had a hat trick and led the Wheeling Nailers to a 4-2 win at Cincinnati.

Atlantic Division

-The Devils are getting sloppy.

-Devils coach Brent Sutter hates skating.

-Islanders coach Scott Gordon said defenseman Mark Streit (right) deserves consideration for the Norris Trophy. Assuming if Nicklas Lidstrom, Zdeno Chara, Andrei Markov, Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Shea Weber, Dion Phaneuf, Sheldon Souray, Brian Campbell and Peter Ahola all of a sudden aren't eligible that is.

-The Flyers recalled forward Andreas Nodl from their puppy-drowning AHL affiliate.

-Philadelphia coach John Stevens cares not for Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau's critique of his team.

Northeast Division

-Derek Roy had a goal and two assists for Buffalo in a 4-2 defeat of the rival Senators. Drew Stafford and Thomas Vanek each added a goal and an assist for Buffalo while Ryan Miller made 31 saves in the win. Jason Spezza led Ottawa with two goals.

-The Maple Leafs demoted forward Kris Newbury to their AHL affiliate.

-Canadiens goaltender Marc Denis is fighting to stay in the NHL.

-In his first game with the Habs' AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs, former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defenseman T.J. Kemp scored a goal. Fire Ray Shero.

-How important has head coach Claude Julien been to the Bruins' success?

Southeast Division

-Viktor Kozlov's shootout goal gave the Capitals a 2-1 win against the rival Flyers. Jose Theodore made 33 saves in the win while Martin Biron made 33 in the loss.

-We'll give this to Flyers fans; They're not impressed with the Capitals' fans either.

-Sergei Samsonov's 200th career goal helped the Hurricanes edge the Devils, 3-2. Cam Ward made 26 saves in the win. Patrik Elias led New Jersey with a goal and an assist.

-Gregory Campbell, Ville Peltonen and Stephen Weiss each had a goal and an assist for the Panthers in a 4-2 win at Toronto. Tomas Vokoun made 24 saves and earned his 200th career win. John Mitchell had two assists for the Maple Leafs.

-The Thrashers need former Penguins forward Colby Armstrong to score some goals.

-Atlanta prospect and former Penguins' draft pick Angelo Esposito (right) will have the stick he scored the game-winning goal for Canada's World Junior Championship enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Fire Dana Heinze.

-The Panthers recalled forward Shawn Matthias from Rochester of the AHL.

-Is Lightning forward and former Penguin Gary Roberts a hall-of-famer?

-Another former Penguin, Lightning coach Rick Tocchet, coaches just like he played the game. With a lot of intensity.

(Photo: Streit-Jim McIsaac/Getty Images; Esposito-Tom Hanson/Canadian Press)