Much ado about nothing is an apt description of the breathless build-up to the first Sean Avery-Martin Brodeur, Rangers-Devils battle since last season's playoffs. Avery did not talk to the media Saturday, Sunday and this morning.
And he smartly did not add any fuel to the fire in his post-game comments. (By the way, keep in mind this was a big media scrum and I didn't ask all the questions, certainly not the obvious ones).
On not fighting with David Clarkson in the third period: "It's a 3-0 game at that point. I don't think that there's anything to gain by doing anything at that point."
On whether it took discipline for him not to fight: "It certainly takes discipline, for sure."
On why he didn't want to fight Clarkson: "You fight for your team and for your teammates. At that point, I didn't need to fight for either of them, so there's really no point."
On being angry he received a roughing call anyway: "I don't really know what happened there. There's a lot going on in a big scrum. We came out with a power play so that's a good thing."
On what he thinks his impact on the game was: "I'll let you guys decide that."
On facing the Devils/Brodeur: "I know there's a lot of anticipation beforehand, for sure, and I just went into it the same I have for a lot of games. Just trying to get focused and knowing what I have to do and knowing what Torts expects of me.".
Were the Devils trying to run him: "(Laughing) Yeah."
Does he notice a pattern of teams doing that: "A little bit.
How he responds when that happens: "I think about a happy place."
On his reaction to his coaches and teammates complaining after Saturday's loss at Pittsburgh he's not being protected well enough by the on-ice officials: "Obviously, we're a family here. We go to bat for each other that's what makes a team. I know we'd do it for anybody and it just happens to me in this case and that's a good thing."
On how close Brodeur's stick came to his face in the first period: "It hit me. You just deal with it."
Does he agree with his coaches and teammates that he's not being protected by the on-ice officials: "I don't know."
On the Rangers' team play in general: "It was a big time game by ius. We showed the patience, kind of like the Minnesota game but we got on the forecheck a little bit more and had a little bit more jump. It was definitely a good game by Blue tonight."
Andrew sorry i did not help in the count tonight as i was at the game. would like to stop and say hello sometime - will be at the next 2 + playoffs if we make them. and the next one + playoffs is pretty near where you sit
Keith - my list in order of who i root against the least
isles (i do live on LI after all). devs (proximity not based on style of play). philly (used to harte their style the most but they are a little further away). and then pitt.
i do like teams in other divisions expecially det and tor as original 6 bretheren and also liked edm back in the day
but of course the rangers number 1 always
Posted by: LI Joe | March 31, 2009 at 01:32 AM
Superman's only weakness is Kryptonite. Sean Avery laughs at Superman for having a weakness.
Posted by: Inferno | March 31, 2009 at 02:11 AM
LI JOe-wow-the Isles are the most hated to you huh? That's intersting but I still can't believe that Pitt is not number one. They have the whiniest captain in sindy crosby, and no matter what-they always seem to win on some bs call. It's never a clean game with them. At least Philly and NJ-when they win it's a solid win and they have beaten the crap out of NY. It's always something against Pitt-I cannot stand them-I am at the point now where I really have to focus to calm down when they are playing. To be honest it's probably not normal.
Posted by: Keith | March 31, 2009 at 07:24 PM
On Avery: I was one of the most skeptical I think of bringing Avery back, if only for the fact that I thought he would be viewed as a major acquisition by Slats at the deadline and I didn't think he would have major impact. I've always liked the guy and I hate to say it, but I think he was very calculated when he said that stuff about Phaneuf's girlfriend and I don't think it was really out of line. He didn't call her a whore or anything-he was just trying to set him up to take a bad penalty at a key time in the game to help his team. I think it was blown way out of proportion. Having said that he definitely could have worded it differently though and it is a bit sleazy. But that's the point-he likes to play the bad guy and I think all sports need that-they need a character that everyone likes to hate on. So I have to admit I was wrong-he has been a great addition to this team and the fans love him and I support the guy. He is one of my favorites if only for his character-I laugh my butt off watching him out there all the time. GO RANGERS
Posted by: Keith | March 31, 2009 at 07:29 PM
keith - for me its more about the fanbases and proximity. there are no current isles i really dislike, but i NEVER want to see them win another cup in my lifetime. pitt winning would not be good but is still preferable to the others in the division.
GOOD TORTS INTERVIEW BELOW
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Posted by: LI Joe | March 31, 2009 at 07:37 PM
keith - i think him leaving dallas had a lot more to do with how he didn't listen to coaches and didn't interract with teammates in practice and between periods. probably calculated there too to ensure he'd come back to ny
Posted by: LI Joe | March 31, 2009 at 07:45 PM
Turco and Modano hated him from the start along with Morrow. They surely didn't welcome him or give him a chance. Modano hates Ott too. Modano is a bitter old man that doesn't get along with the younger players. Turco is the #1 reason the Stars are gonna miss the playoffs.
Posted by: graves9 | March 31, 2009 at 08:32 PM
No help at all tonight, thought the Hawks would come through, but I guess not.
Posted by: Mark | March 31, 2009 at 10:22 PM
i think we need 3 of 5 - especially if one of the 3 is against mtl in regulation. and the way both fla and mtl played tonight and with their remaining schedules we might need 7 or 8 pts
Posted by: LI Joe | March 31, 2009 at 10:48 PM
I gotcha LI Joe-and you are right about Avery-I forgot about the team dynamic in my comments above. I didn't know he wasn't listening to the coaches and all of that. I was real surprised he wanted to come back to NY but I always thought he would stay unless some knuckleheads tried to pay him a whole lot-DALLAS! That contract was awful from the start anyway. Good points, as always LI Joe-
Mark-I hope you were as annnoyed as I was watching last night's games. I couldn't believe how easy FLA and MTL seemed to have it! Not good news for NY-they need to win a huge one in Carolina on the road and they have not played well on the road. It's going to be nerve-racking
Posted by: Keith | April 01, 2009 at 08:14 AM
Has anyone heard about this Holden kid that is rumored to being signed by the Rangers?
Posted by: PRSidekick | April 01, 2009 at 11:42 AM
i'm betting that it is an april fools joke - quickly read lohud and it seems like that to me
Posted by: LI Joe | April 01, 2009 at 12:26 PM