Empty Netter Assists - Western Conference - 1-9-09

Central Division

-Niklas Kronwall had three assists while teammates Dan Cleary, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and former Penguin Marian Hossa each added a goal and an assist for the Red Wings in a 6-1 rout of the Stars. Fire Ray Shero. Chris Osgood made 22 saves for Detroit.

-Check out this hit by Niklas Kronwall on Dallas' Mike Ribeiro:

-The Blue Jackets put goaltender Pascal Leclaire on injured reserve due to a bum ankle. Goaltender Dan LaCosta was recalled from Syracuse of the AHL.

Northwest Division

-Ryan Smyth and Wojtek Wolski each had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche which edged the Blackhawks, 2-1. Andrew Raycroft made a career-high 43 saves for Colorado.

-Is Raycroft (right) Colorado's top goaltender?

-Daymond Langkow had a goal and two assists while teammates Rene Bourque and Mike Cammalleri each added a goal and an assist for the Flames in a 5-2 win against the Islanders. Adrian Aucoin recorded two assists against his former team while Miikka Kiprusoff made 24 saves in the win.

-The Flames recalled forward Mikael Backlund from Sweden's national junior team.

-Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo practiced for the first time since injuring his groin during a 3-1 win in Pittsburgh, Nov. 22.

-Vancouver recalled forward Jannik Hansen from Manitoba and demoted forward Alexandre Bolduc.

-Wild defenseman Martin Skoula is dealing with an illness.

Pacific Division

-Shane Doan and Steven Reinprecht each had two assists for the Coyotes who edged the Lightning, 3-2. Ilya Bryzgalov made 22 saves in the win. Jeff Halpern led Tampa Bay with a goal and an assist.

-Dustin Brown, Alexander Frolov and Anze Kopitar each had a goal and an assist and led the Kings to a 4-3 win against the rival Ducks. An earthquake actually occured during the game but there was no damage.

-Kings forward Oscar Moller is dealing with a broken clavicle.

-The Kid Line came through for the Coyotes last night.

-Folks in Canada are still pretty bitter over the fact that Phoenix has a hockey team.

-Dallas' goaltending has been awful this season.

(Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)