Avery's Screen

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

and sadly that garners more of the leagues wrath than Elbows to the head.... I think the way the NHL handles these situations is what makes them look like a joke league... not the actual incidents themselves.

But Os, I don't think thats a fair comparison seeing as that elbows to the head are illegal. I'm not saying the league does enough about those instances but you're comparing an illegal play to a play that was for all intents and purposes a legal play until this morning.

[OsGOD 3]

yeah he would have never be able to do that if avrey wasn't being an ass in front. everyone knew it thats why the ref let it go. dom chops at people so do you think that should be called every time?

Actually I DO

If people can't come within 2 feet of the goalies they SHOULD NOT be allowed to make contact themselves. It has to go both ways.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I agree with the analysts that this tatic will have a life of about 24 hours in the NHL before it's ruled illegal... and I think that it'll be a good call. Like MacKenzie said in the clip, it's one thing to act like Homer and screen the goalie and also try and set yourself up for a tip-in in the process and acting like Avery and do something has absolutely no offensive value other than to try and screw with the goalie.

While I agree that it hurts the integrity of the game (and keep in mind that I agree that Avery shouldn't be allowed to do this), I think its incorrect to say it has "no offensive value other than to try and screw with the goalie" because it obviously took some of Marty's attention off the play and put it on Avery, which in itself is "offensive value".

[hillbillywingsfan 794]

Actually I DO

If people can't come within 2 feet of the goalies they SHOULD NOT be allowed to make contact themselves. It has to go both ways.

osgod im sure your mind would be changed if you were a fan of the devils like you are the wings.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Both TSN and CBC analysts were crucifying Avery for screening Brodeur the way he did. If you didn't see it, check out this clip and see how you feel about it.

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with what he was doing. If you want to take yourself out of a play like that to distract the goalie, then go for it. It wasn't dirty, and I really don't see anything unsportsmanlike about it. The only difference between this and a normal screen is the way that Avery was facing.

I like Avery but that right there is pathetic. Shouldn't be allowed.

[Real1 2]

I think the only thing wrong with this play is that Sean could get hurt really bad if someone takes a shot and hits him in the back of the leg. Other that that, I thought it was pretty funny.

[McCartyFanForLife 17]

Also a really selfish play; his teammates had to make sure he wasn't going to be in the way of a shot cause he obviously couldn't see what the heck was going on behind him. Again, it's just a stupid play because using your body to block the goaltender's vision is 100x better than using a stick. I wish a teammate would have shot the puck right into his arse.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

NFM i have made that argument and all that was said is "how do you know he didn't tell him to keep doing it" we will just have to wait and see if it comes out. I hope it does. someone needs to do some interviews about it.

Why would he take himself out of position briefly to tell Avery to keep doing it? Everyone knows thats Avery's type of game, and I highly doubt he needed any encouragement from a teammate to keep doing what he was doing.

That being said, after watching it again, perhaps his mate told him to keep his stick down while doing it to watch for a potential high-sticking or the off chance that a puck could deflect off his stick only to go in and be disallowed due to playing the puck with a stick above the crossbar. You notice after he skates away from Avery that he no longer uses his stick in the air and rather uses his hand/glove to get in Marty's line of sight.

[OsGOD 3]

osgod im sure your mind would be changed if you were a fan of the devils like you are the wings.

No i don't think so I love Brody... but just the same... I think goalies should be fair game when they go out side of the blue (if players get penalized for going into the blue.

Being a fan of the devils (actually they are my Eastern Confernece team... I really do like them... i miss Stevens but i survive) has nothing to do with it. I think goalies get too much of a free pass... Wings goalies just the same.

[OsGOD 3]

I say if facing the goalie is a dick move then turn around and shake your groove thing for the goalie...

Maybe Holmer should take this up... it might distract from him actually being a mm in the crease most times.

Edited April 14, 2008 by OsGOD

[russianswede919293 95]

So I thought that this was hilarious. While I watched it I was initially thinking how it should be unsportsmanlike conduct, then I thought about it and wasn't sure where I stand, then I went through 7 pages of this thread and still am not sure where I stand. In terms of the deed itself it is hilarious and I'm glad it happened since I needed a good laugh. In terms of its fairness, I still dont quite know. I know if I was in net and somebody did that to me I would deck the guy out. I hit them in the back of the legs with the sitck if they get to pushy with their back to me, so like that (unlink Brodeur) I wouldnt have missed.

I think that it made him look foolish and not remotely like a hockey player, because he took himself 100% out of the play. It was something I'd expect to see in the Mighty Ducks Disney Movies...

I don't think its illegal or deserves a penalty, but its the same as when A-Rod yelled gott it behind the Blue Jays 3B last year, it isn't illegal, it's not a penalty, its just clasless...

[shannyfan1414 0]

Well i would have to say that Avery pulled a bush league move. It was a low class attempt to disrupt the goalie.

I'm surprised that there is no rule about something like that. In lacrosse you have to be facing the ball. You can not turn and mirror the goalie and use your hands to distract the keeper.

My guess is that there will be a new rule similar to the rule in lacrosse in the very near future.

[OsGOD 3]

So should players on opposing teams not tap their stick on the ice to try to get an Errant pass from the other teams player.... Should guys stop yelling out other teams nick names to try to get them to turn over the puck?

Its all part of the game... you don't like the way avery was acting... BREAK HIS HEAD... i find it funny that the devils just LET HIM DO IT!!!!

[Aussie_Wing 354]

So should players on opposing teams not tap their stick on the ice to try to get an Errant pass from the other teams player.... Should guys stop yelling out other teams nick names to try to get them to turn over the puck?

You can't seriously compare them to what Avery did can you?

[Xitium 272]

Its all part of the game... you don't like the way avery was acting... BREAK HIS HEAD... i find it funny that the devils just LET HIM DO IT!!!!

I thought the same thing when I saw it too.

There is a quote that I heard somewhere last night about this incident, and it sums up my thoughts pretty well. "I've heard of this happening, but never in a reputable league."

[union drone 0]

Its all part of the game... you don't like the way avery was acting... BREAK HIS HEAD... i find it funny that the devils just LET HIM DO IT!!!!

I don't. They were on the wrong end of a 5-3 in a SC playoff game. Do you leave formation (and possibly give up a goal) to get at Avery? Do you take another penalty?

[OsGOD 3]

You can't seriously compare them to what Avery did can you?

Its all distraction in my book

people are just jealous because avery thought of it first... They don't like the trend setters

Obviously the Devils (apart from brody) didn't mind what he was doing.... nobody stopped him.

Edited April 14, 2008 by OsGOD

[Real1 2]

I am shocked that he had the balls to do that. Like I said, he could have gotten hurt. Dumbass.

[vangvace 12]

While I feel this way, I can't understand why no New Jersey player came flying in and leveled him.

It was during a 5 on 3 I believe. Avery might be an ass, but he isn't dumb most some of the time. Plus Jersey is trying really hard to nuetralize him like Buffalo did last(?) playoffs by ignoring him as much as possible.

So players whose primary purpose it is to fight shouldn't play hockey either then? Avery was involved in the play, just not exactly in the traditional sense.

Fighting is more a part of hockey than that was. BTW, how in the world can that be considered professional?

I have a distinct problem with what he did, it was disrespectful and made him look like an ass, is it illegal not by a long shot. But I am not the only one that had a problem with it. Ask Scott Gomez Drury who skates over and gives him a little chuck in the side, imo to say hey cut the s*** you look stupid and you are making the rest of us look that way.

I am one of the few who doesn't want this guy anywhere near the winged wheel again, he is what is wrong with the game. He respects no one in the game and does whatever he can to screw with people. I am not sure he even respects himself.

Part of me thinks in his head, hey if I do this I will make it on TV and get another hot G/F.

Agreed.

[russianswede919293 95]

So should players on opposing teams not tap their stick on the ice to try to get an Errant pass from the other teams player.... Should guys stop yelling out other teams nick names to try to get them to turn over the puck?

Its all part of the game... you don't like the way avery was acting... BREAK HIS HEAD... i find it funny that the devils just LET HIM DO IT!!!!

I only half agree with you. I think that there is a fine line between playing the game and making the game look stupid. I am not saying it should have been a penalty because I don't believe it should be, I just think it makes the sport look bad to see that happen.

Plus if a Devils player decked him out it would have been interference and I believe they were already short-handed, so they have to choose between a dumb penalty at a bad time or letting avery be an ass...

(I do like Avery by the way, just think that he was an ass there)

[redwing_sparty 0]

Remember when Lapointe got nailed between the legs by Roy way back when he was facing away? Ha!

actually that was ed belfour who smacked lapointe between the legs. it was in the 98 conference finals.

[wingslogo19 281]

I don't really have a huge problem what Avery did, yes it was not normal but at the same time he was trying to get the Devils to take a penalty.. And like Mac said, it would of been interesting to hear what that player said to Avery

[OsGOD 3]

I only half agree with you. I think that there is a fine line between playing the game and making the game look stupid. I am not saying it should have been a penalty because I don't believe it should be, I just think it makes the sport look bad to see that happen.

Plus if a Devils player decked him out it would have been interference and I believe they were already short-handed, so they have to choose between a dumb penalty at a bad time or letting avery be an ass...

(I do like Avery by the way, just think that he was an ass there)

Personally i think the game already looks stupid... Thanks Gary!...

This just adds some laughable times to the stupidity... At least we are talking about some guy jumping waiving dancing in front of a goalie than why Somebody took off some elses head and only got a 1 game suspension.... The league is already a joke... at least now people can laugh at it!

[union drone 0]

Its all distraction in my book

people are just jealous because avery thought of it first... They don't like the trend setters

Obviously the Devils (apart from brody) didn't mind what he was doing.... nobody stopped him.

It's hard to put up much of a fuss about anything when you are down 5 men to 3.

Jealousy has nothing to do with it. The integrity of the game has everything to do with it.

[12Newf 0]

I got a bigger kick out of the microphones being close to the ice for I think it was, sh*t can't remember which one last night now. I was watching all 3. Was it the Calgary game? Hmm. One of the guys was like "you're a ******* *****" and "you're a ******* *****", and as they were going over to the box, he kept saying "you won't drop em" LOL. I just thought it was bad ass that you could hear it on Television...

haha i saw that! it was the nj nyr game and i think it was mike rupp. he called the guy a ***** like 5 times and a "******* *****". i was just like wow are they going to turn these mics off or what!?