Avery’s teammates unhappy with double standard

March 29, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

It was bound to happen. When Sean Avery returned to the ice back with the Rangers, everyone knew he’d be under very close watch. Not surprisingly, his reputation has hurt in terms of drawing calls 99 percent of his peers would get.

Such is how life is for Avery in his Broadway Sequel. In 12 games, the soon to be 29 year-old pest has scored four goals and five assists for nine points with two power play goals while accumulating 22 penalty minutes. During that span, the Rangers have posted a 7-4-1 mark. However, due to three defeats in the last four, the postseason remains an uncertainty with them currently seventh at 87 points only one ahead of Montreal and two better than ninth Florida. They’ll return to MSG Monday night to host the bitter rival Devils in what amounts to a must win game minus the Avery-Martin Brodeur past nonsense. As predicted, Avery has chosen to take the high road about the big match-up.

It was during Saturday’s bittersweet 4-3 penalty marred loss to the Penguins that Avery easily could’ve drawn two or three minor penalties. In a game that saw the Rangers repeatedly go to the box including an unexplained made up five minute ‘interference’ major on Colton Orr while the Pens were only whistled for three, Avery’s teammates finally spoke up about the latest odd discrepancy at Mellon Arena.

“You see every game Sean gets hit from behind and slashed and there are no calls,” Henrik Lundqvist told the NY Post’s Larry Brooks. “I expected it the first couple of games, but it has to be the same for everybody and I honestly don’t think that has been the case.

“It’s come to the point where we probably have to have a discussion with some people.”

Observed Lundqvist of the penalty fest in the Pens’ favor:

“I don’t know what it is about this building, but it always seem to be about the PK here. “There were a lot of calls, and some were very cheap, I think.”

Coach John Tortorella, who once heavily critiqued Avery on TSN has since seen a different side of a player who thus far has been a solid soldier in a second chance following a dreadful 23-game showing with Dallas.

Assessed the Ranger coach:

“I don’t think Sean is being treated fairly. I’m the first one to say that Sean makes his bed with some of the things that have happened, but I think he’s done his penance. . . . He’s done his penance and I hope he’s given a fair shake. … If he does something stupid, then give him a penalty. If he deserves to be kicked out of the game, then kick him out of the game, but the way he’s trying concentrate on playing I hope he gets treated fairly.“

Added Ranger captain Chris Drury to Daily News beat writer Michael Obernauer:

“I do think Sean is a marked guy.”