Avery's Screen

[Aussie_Wing 354]

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.

Avery certainly is a trend setter by doing this, and maybe you have your answer as to why no one was stopping him. Maybe they were in disbelief that anyone would go ahead with such a low move in a playoff game?

[union drone 0]

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!

Well, I guess that you'll be happy when the NBA playoffs start in a week. You won't have to be bothered with watching a joke of a sport.

[OsGOD 3]

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.

Once again... What is this integrity you speak of? Certainly NOT in the NHL... they have none

[Gizmo 21]

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".

That was the reason for my "other than" qualification. I agree that distracting Marty offered some sort of advantage to the Rangers... just like if Avery would have tackled him and pushed him clear of the mouth of the goal. But I don't think either action should be kosher in the game of hockey.

[drwscc 212]

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

You totally can. Avery was trying to cause a mistake, same as calling players nicknames and tapping the ice. Did Avery's actions work? Not in that instance.

All of those are dick moves. None of those is very sportsmanlike behavior. Why is it that some is acceptable, and some is not?

[union drone 0]

Once again... What is this integrity you speak of? Certainly NOT in the NHL... they have none

You obviously don't care much about the sport, do you? You sound like the kind of guy that bails water into a sinking boat.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

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.

I don't think its the trend setters that people don't like.....its Avery.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

You totally can. Avery was trying to cause a mistake, same as calling players nicknames and tapping the ice. Did Avery's actions work? Not in that instance.

All of those are dick moves. None of those is very sportsmanlike behavior. Why is it that some is acceptable, and some is not?

It's like sledging in cricket. You probably have no idea what I'm talking about but it's a part of cricket and while some don't like it, there's nothing wrong with it.

There is a massive difference between say sledging and what Avery did, I can't believe people are honestly suggesting there is none. Avery's move was a low act and he deserved to cop a beating, so to speak, for it. No one took offence because they probably couldn't believe what they were seeing. It shouldn't happen, simple as that. It's not in the spirit of the game. He went on the ice without the intention of looking at the play, that's not right.

Edited April 14, 2008 by Aussie_Wing

[OsGOD 3]

You obviously don't care much about the sport, do you? You sound like the kind of guy that bails water into a sinking boat.

I love the game... but i am not going to get all pissy about some type of move like this... when more important issues with the league are being swept under the rug.

Now had the puck gone in off of the glove of the flailing Avery... then we might have a discussion on our hands... to me people need to stop getting all Soap box-ish about THIS event and go back to counting the number of empty seats in out of town venues.

Edited April 14, 2008 by OsGOD

[union drone 0]

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

...like Simon and Pronger. Man, why didn't we think of this first!

[Opie 308]

OsGod,

I agree with you some what, I agree this is just another thing that goes on in the NHL that is just bush league or shows a lack of respect.

Elbows to the head, Late hits, crushing a guy when he is obviously in a very dangerous position. Are these things illegal, not always, but they show no respect.

I bet in the old days Avery would have been the first guy to intentionally launch slappers at the face of a unmasked goalie on every shot. Because hey why not, it isn't illegal, it is just against the code of ethics.

There was ethics in the game once, guys like Tootoo, Avery, and others have started playing a style of game that has no respect for others, including their teammates.

I will reference "What it means to be a red wing" again, when they talk about Richard (who is one of the best players ever) and how he would light guys up (same with Howe), or use their elbows to protect themselves but would not go after a guy with elbows, or their stick. Sure there were some guys who did it then too. But they faced as much scrutiny in the locker room as they did on the ice.

Now did Howe or Richard do things that were against the rules or dirty, yeah sure (did you say yeah sir, or yeah sure, Super Troopers anyone) but they would never try to injure some one. I think if Avery could find a way to sneak a chainsaw in he would, I know the poster was being Sarcastic, but what have any of us seen of Avery that makes us think otherwise. Between his mouth, his actions, and his complete lack of respect for the game, he has shown the only thing he has respect for is his bank account!

I don't care if he scores the cup winning goal against the wings and wins the Conn Smythe I still don't want him anywhere near the winged wheel!!

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

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!

OsGod, I'm asking this in complete seriousness and its not meant to be condescending one bit. Why do you still watch the NHL? I know you love hockey but the amount of anger you have toward this league seems to be enough for most people to just leave it behind. I know if I had the strong feelings that you have toward the NHL and all its surronding participants I'd be gone and never look back, but you continue to watch....and I'm not sure why? I know you love all different levels of hockey, but if the NHL pisses you off as much as it comes off on LGW, I just don't understand why you continue to put up with it when you could just as easily watch other leagues that better suit your interest.

Edited April 14, 2008 by Never Forget Mac #25

[union drone 0]

I love the game... but i am not going to get all pissy about some type of move like this... when more important issues with the league are being swept under the rug.

I'll be the first to admit that there are numerous thing that could be done to improve the game. Avery's behavior hardly helps the NHL's cause, unless you think that WWE is the way to go.

A penalty to Avery next time he tries it nips it in the bud staight away.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

That was the reason for my "other than" qualification. I agree that distracting Marty offered some sort of advantage to the Rangers... just like if Avery would have tackled him and pushed him clear of the mouth of the goal. But I don't think either action should be kosher in the game of hockey.

Neither do I, but one of those situations you just mentioned was illegal before this morning.....the other was not.

Keep in mind, that I don't agree with what Avery did, and find it to hurt the integrity of the game.

[imisssergei 0]

Everyone is assuming that the ref and Drury told him to stop. We don't know that. To me, it looked like both the red and Drury told Avery to keep his stick down. The play was perfectly legal, regardless of your opinion about it. There is no rule that prevents anyone from doing exactly what Avery did. So what's the big deal?

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Everyone is assuming that the ref and Drury told him to stop. We don't know that. To me, it looked like both the red and Drury told Avery to keep his stick down. The play was perfectly legal, regardless of your opinion about it. There is no rule that prevents anyone from doing exactly what Avery did. So what's the big deal?

I agree, that it looks as though his teammate and the ref told him to keep his stick down, but people are upset about the integrity of the game.

[Xitium 272]

Everyone is assuming that the ref and Drury told him to stop. We don't know that. To me, it looked like both the red and Drury told Avery to keep his stick down. The play was perfectly legal, regardless of your opinion about it. There is no rule that prevents anyone from doing exactly what Avery did. So what's the big deal?

They are discussing this on NHL Network right now, and they zommed in on Drury, and it definitely looks like Drury is saying "Stick down".

[hillbillywingsfan 794]

Everyone is assuming that the ref and Drury told him to stop. We don't know that. To me, it looked like both the red and Drury told Avery to keep his stick down. The play was perfectly legal, regardless of your opinion about it. There is no rule that prevents anyone from doing exactly what Avery did. So what's the big deal?

read more the of the posts on here...we aren't talking about it being legal or not. we are talking more about the integrity of the game like NFM said.

[Opie 308]

BTW, melrose on sportscenter just said some one on the Devils should have punched him in the face! Great Barry but that is what Avery wants, then he can dive like the vid below and turn a 5-3 to back to back 5-3's.

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[OsGOD 3]

OsGod, I'm asking this in complete seriousness and its not meant to be condescending one bit. Why do you still watch the NHL? I know you love hockey but the amount of anger you have toward the sport seems to be enough for most people to just leave it behind. I know if I had the strong feelings that you have toward the NHL and all its correspondence I'd be gone and never look back, but you continue to watch....and I'm not sure why? I know you love all different levels of hockey, but if the NHL pisses you off as much as it comes off on LGW, I just don't understand why you continue to put up with it when you could just as easily watch other leagues that better suit your interest.

I can still criticize the game... it would be foolish to say that everything is peachy keen with the league.

But... i like the sport... i can look past the non-sense for most part.. (aka players dancing, empty seats) and like the game itself... I don't really get all worked up about the idiocracies that go on all the time... SOme players are just made that way... learn to embrace them.

[McCartyFanForLife 17]

I agree, that it looks as though his teammate and the ref told him to keep his stick down, but people are upset about the integrity of the game.

They talked about it during the game. Apparently the ref told Avery that the play was over and to get back to playing. Avery didn't see the puck leave the zone.

[Gizmo 21]

Neither do I, but one of those situations you just mentioned was illegal before this morning.....the other was not.

I agree... but as I stated with my first post, I think within 24 hours both actions will be explicitly forbidden by the league... and I think rightly so. Avery's "show" was certainly entertaining and was a creative use of the rules, but I think that'll be his one and only performance.

[edicius 3,269]

Okay, I finally watched the clip...and it just looked goofy.

If Avery keeps his stick and hands down, it's really not much different than basic screening of the goaltender. However, if he keeps his stick and hands down and continues to face Brodeur, his screening advantage is minimized significantly since he's watching Brodeur and not the play on the ice.

Avery was just trying to get under Marty's skin and he seemed to when Marty gave him a shot to the face (which I'm surprised wasn't penalized).

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I can still criticize the game... it would be foolish to say that everything is peachy keen with the league.

But... i like the sport... i can look past the non-sense for most part.. (aka players dancing, empty seats) and like the game itself... I don't really get all worked up about the idiocracies that go on all the time... SOme players are just made that way... learn to embrace them.

I can embrace players that show creativity and are pioneers to a sport, but I could never embrace players that show no respect for the game or their fellow colleagues.

That being said, I'm not referring to the game itself, I'm talking about the NHL. If you are as upset with it as your posts make you sound, why don't you key in on other hockey leagues that better suit your interest? If you still want to continue watching the NHL you obviously don't have as big of a problem with it or the way its being run.

I'm not saying you shouldn't be critical of the NHL, because I am plenty, but from you it comes off like you absolutely hate the NHL and everything to do with it. Please don't be offended because I'm certainly not trying to attack you, that's just the way I've come to know you from your posting.

[umredwing11 2]

As much as I love Avery and think the screen was creative/hilarious, I wouldn't want to see something like that become part of the game. It's funny the first time around, but it takes some serious skill to screen the traditional Homer-esche way--what Avery was doing took zero skill, just an ingenious nact to annoy the other team. Part of what Homer does is not just screen, but also deflect pucks into the net. If Avery wants to stand with his head facing away from the shot, leaving him unable to purposefully deflect shots or get out of the way head-level pucks, then I guess he should go for it.

Edited April 14, 2008 by umredwing11