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Saturday, 25 February 2012 06:30

Written by Seth Rorabaugh

Penguins

-Brooks Orpik ("upper body") and Brent Johnson (undisclosed) are day to day.

-With Johnson questionable, the Penguins recalled Brad Thiessen (above) from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL.

-Evgeni Malkin squares off against Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos today for the league leading scoring.

-Eric Tangradi has improved defensively. (PG+)

-Dan Bylsma speaks:

-By way of artist David Arrigo, Johnson has a new Led Zeppelin-themed lid:

-James Neal will be featured on the NHL Network's "NHL 36" show.

-Cal O'Reilly has lived in five different cities the past five months.

-Two goals by Denver Manderson led the Nailers to a 4-3 win against Toledo Walleye. Paul Crowder added a goal and an assist for Wheeling while teammate Peter Lenes recorded two assists. Peter Delmas made 19 saves in the victory.

-“To see the Penguins locker room and meet people you might play with someday, it was like living your dream. Seeing all those guys – Crosby, Malkin, you know – you think they’re going to be big and then you see them in person and think, ‘Oh, I thought you were going to be bigger than that or something.’" - Penguins forward prospect Dominik Uher (right) on taking part in the team's development camp this summer. Uher currently plays for the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL.

-Happy 62nd birthday to former Penguins goaltender Cam Newton. An eighth-round pick in 1970, Newton spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. As a rookie in 1970-71, he appeared in five games and had a 1-3-1 record along with a 3.42 GAA. After spending all of 1971-72 with the Penguins' AHL affiliate in Hershey, Newton returned in 1972-73 by playing in 11 games and going 3-4-0 with a 3.94 GAA. During the 1973 offseason, he joined the Chicago Cougars of the WHA as a free agent. In 16 games with the Penguins, Newton had a 4-7-1 record with a 3.76 goals against average.

Atlantic Division

-Shootout goals by Frans Nielsen and former Penguins prospect Matt Moulson gave the Islanders a 4-3 win against the rival Rangers. Fire Ray Shero. P.A. Parenteau scored two regulation goals for the Islanders while Moulson added a regulation goals and an assist. Fire Ray Shero again. Evgeni Nabokov made 33 saves in the victory. Marian Gaborik collected a goal and an assist for the Rangers.

-Happy times on Long Island:

-Brad Richards of the Rangers had issues with Nino Niederreiter of the Islanders:

-Rangers forward and former Penguin Ruslan Fedotenko returned to the lineup after missing six games due to an "upper-body" injury.

-The Devils acquired defenseman Marek Zidlicky from the Wild in exchange for defenseman Kurtis Foster, forwards Nick Palmieri, Stephane Veilleux, a second-round draft pick in 2012 and a conditional pick in 2013. Including this season, Zidlicky, 35, has two seasons left on a contract with a salary cap hit of $4 million. In 41 games this season, he has 14 assists.

Including this season, Foster, 30, has two seasons left on a contract with a salary cap hit of $1.8 million. In 37 games this season, Foster (right) has 14 points (four goals, 10 assists). Palmieri has two seasons on an entry-level contract, including this season, and has seven points (four goals, seven assists) in 29 game this season. Veilleux in the final year of a two-way contract. In one NHL game this season, he has failed to score a point.

EN Says: What a trade for the Wild. It deals an aging player who was not happy whatsoever in Minnesota for a a decent bundles of players and draft picks.

Zidlicky (right) was not happy whatsoever under new head coach Mike Yeo and even questioned him in public. That led to frequent healthy scratches. He goes to New Jersey where the blue line is somewhat thin. Zidlicky might not be the 40-point threat he used to be, but he presents an upgrade on the blue line for New Jersey.

The Wild gets two players in Foster and Veillieux who had their best days in Minnesota. Foster is a large (6-foot-5, 220 pounds) talent who is prone to inconsistency. His biggest asset might be his point shot. Veilleux is a borderline NHL third- or fourth-liner. Palmieri might have the most upside. He's a physical power forward who has displayed some scoring touch at the AHL level.

-During a ceremony prior to last night's game against the Canucks, the Devils honored long-time broadcaster Mike "Doc" Emrick. Check out the Colorado Rockies fan trolling:

-Flyers forward Scott Hartnell will not face supplemental discipline for a kneeing minor which injured Oilers forward Magnus Paajarvi.

Northeast Division

-Shootout goals by Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy gave the Sabres a 2-1 win against the Bruins. Ryan Miller made 35 saves in the victory.

-With forward Brian Boyes dealing with an undisclosed injury, the Sabres recalled forward Corey Tropp from Rochester of the AHL.

-With goaltender Craig Anderson dealing with a finger injury, the Senators recalled goaltender Robin Lehner from Binghamton of the AHL.

Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov (knee) has resumed skating for the first time since Dec. 5.

-The Maple Leafs placed forwards Darryl Boyce and Jay Rosehill on waivers.

-Prior to last night's game between the Worcester Sharks, San Jose's AHL affiliate, and the Providence Bruins, Boston's affiliate, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski "spiked" a puck at center ice:

Southeast Division

-A goal and an assist by Jason Chimera led the Capitals to a 4-1 win against the Canadiens. Michael Neuvirth made 30 saves in the victory.

-Happy times for Washington captain Alex Ovechkin:

-Pumped times for Washington's jason Chimera:

-Bright times for Washington mascot Slapshot:

-Neuvirth was all over this puck:

-Ovechkin returned to the lineup after missing one game due to a "lower-body" injury.

-The Panthers acquired forward Jerred Smithson from the Predators in exchange for a draft pick in 2012. Including this season, he has two seasons left on a contract with a salary cap hit of $800,000. In 53 games this season, Smithson, 33, has five points (one goal, four assists).

EN Says: Smithson is a protypical third- or fourth-line type. He can win faceoffs, play some penalty kill, throw a check and generally do all the little things you expect from a player in that role.

-The Panthers demoted defenseman Tyson Strachan to San Antonio of the AHL.

-The Jets placed forward Antti Miettinen (right) on waivers.

Central Division

-A day after he said he "he big smile on my face," Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey clarified his comments on leaving the Avalanche through a recent trade.

-With defenseman Kris Russell dealing with concussion symptoms, the Blues recalled defenseman Ian Cole from Peoria of the AHL.

-The Blue Jackets recalled forward Cam Atkinson from Springfield of the AHL.

-The Blackhawks signed goaltender signed goaltender Carter Hutton to a one-year contract and assigned him to Rockford of the AHL.

-The Predators demoted defenseman Ryan Ellis to Milwaukee of the AHL.

Northwest Division

-Corey Schneider made 30 saves for the Canucks in a 2-1 win against the Devils. Vancouver has won six out of its past seven games.

-Check out the placement on this shot by Vancouver's Mason Raymond:

-Vancouver's Alexander Edler > New Jersey's Ryan Carter:

-Semyon Varlamov made 28 saves for the Avalanche in a 5-0 shutout of the Blue Jackets. David Jones had two goals and an assist for Colorado while teammates Steve Downie and Gabriel Landeskog each collected a goal and an assist.

-A knee injury is expected to sideline defenseman Ryan O'Bryne two to three weeks.

-The Oilers signed forward Ales Hemsky to a two-year contract extension worth a total of $10 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $5 million. In the final year of a contract with a cap hit of $4.1 million, Hemsky, 28, has 26 points (five goals, 21 assists) in 47 games this season.

EN Says: This is a pretty hefty salary cap hit for Hemsky. He isn't the same player he was when he was a 70-point threat. Multiple injuries have limited his effectiveness the past few seasons. That said, when he's healthy, he's a legit No. 1 scoring winger.

-The Flames addressed the SNAFU.

-The Flames recalled forward Guillaume Desbiens from Abbotsford of the AHL.

-Flames forward Curtis Glencross returned to the lineup Thursday against the Coyotes after missing 13 games due to a knee injury.

-The Wild demoted forward Carson McMillan to Houston of the AHL.

-Wild fans are scheduled to received a trading card of the now traded Marek Zidlicky prior to Sunday's game against the Sharks.

Pacific Division

-Two goals by Tom Wandell led the Stars to a 4-1 win against the Wild. Kari Lehtonen made 28 saves in the victory which was Dallas' third in a row.

-Goal of the Night: Check out the patience by Dallas Louis Eriksson on this goal:

-Pass of the Night: Check out this pass by Minnesota's Dany Heatley to set up Devin Setoguchi:

-The Stars recorded the 1,500th win in franchise history.

-Dallas demoted forward Matt Fraser to Texas of the AHL.

-The Kings signed defenseman Willie Mitchell to a two-year contract extension worth a total of $7 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $3.5 million. In the final year of a contract with a cap hit also worth $3.5 million, Mitchell. 34, has 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 55 games this season.

-EN Says: $3.5 million for a defenseman who can shut down top opposing forwards is a bargain.

-Los Angeles recalled defenseman Slava Voynov from Manchester of the AHL and demoted forward Andrei Loktionov to Manchester.

Adams Division

-Ron Cramer's overtime goal gave the Robert Morris' men's team a 2-1 win against Air Force.

-Max Strang made 25 saves for the Mercyhurst men's team in a 2-1 loss to Canisius.

(Photos: Thiessen and Zidlicky-Claus Andersen/Getty Images; Uher-Spokane Chiefs; Rangers/Islanders-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Canadiens/Capitals-Patrick McDermott/Getty Images and Nick Wass/Associated Press; Miettinen-Marianne Helm/Getty Images; Canucks/Devils-Bill Kostroun/Associated Press and Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

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