WRIST SHOTS: SEAN AVERY IS A FUCKING DOUCHEBAG

I know, that post title might surprise you and raise some eyebrows, but it's true. (CBC wanted to use it as a headline but changed it at the last minute.)

Sean Avery raised his "harrass Brodeur" technique to new douchebaggish heights in Game 3 last night. He came on for one of his shifts in the 2nd period and skated straight from the bench up to Brodeur, and with his back to the play began screwing with him, screening him and waving his glove and stick directly in his face. He did it for 30-40 seconds and never once turned around, looked at where the puck was or followed the play. Even if it's not "illegal" it was total bush league garbage.

This morning I read the ominous statement "the league is looking into it", so we may have an official (or unofficial) "Avery Rule" on the books before too long. But if the refs continue to let him do this, since there's technically no "rule" forbidding it, I am done watching this series. I'll say it again: Avery is a good player (he has 3 freaking goals in 3 games!), why does he have to do this crap? Better yet, why does the coach let him do it? Could Tom Renney maybe rein him in a little, or does this moron only have an on-off agitator switch? All I know is there isn't an ounce of sportsmanship in his body. Sean Avery, you are a classless douchebag.

Here's TSN's Bob McKenzie's take on it, and a clip of it from CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.



At one point his OWN TEAMMATE (Drury) tries to get him to stop by pushing him. The referee, of course, doesn't chase him out until he's already done it for 30 seconds. Though there's no "rule" I suppose they could have called "unsportsmanlike conduct" (a 10 minute "game misconduct" might be a little excessive), but the refs have proven they have no idea how to control these games.

(Oh, the game was won 4-3 in OT by the Devils thanks to lucky deflection by Madden off of Staal's skate. It may have been a great game, but I turned it off after seeing that Avery horseshit, and only turned it back on when I saw it was going to OT.)

Other scores: Philthy Lyers won 2-0 (series tied 1-1), Calgary came back from 3-0 deficit to win 4-3 (up 2-1 on SJ), Bruins actually beat the Habs in OT (Habs lead 2-1).

One other thing: I'm no longer impressed that Rangers fans show up at games in Newark, as half of northern Jersey and most of the adjacent New York metro area are Rangers fans anyway. I'm more impressed by Philthy Lyers fans that drive 2½ hours to D.C., and Habs fans (reports have them showing up by the thousands) that drive 6 hours down to Boston, to see their teams play. Now that's a real hockey fan.

I had to include one last picture of that OT goal, not to rub it in but because it looks great (thanks to Getty Images).