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He might be an idiot, but Avery (with A LOT of goaltending help) is the reason the Rangers are playing golf right now. For some unknown reason he makes the team better. Period.

Wait so this article is saying that Avery plays with a lack of discipline and takes bad plenalties that hurt his team? I never knew that...

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 08:14 AM ET  04.24 by Bread

He might be an idiot, but Avery (with A LOT of goaltending help) is the reason the Rangers aren't playing golf right now. For some unknown reason he makes the team better. Period.

perhaps, but maybe taking the focus off of worrying about having to kill penalties that are ineveitable with Avery (real or not!) might help a bit.
I'm on the fence about this one

Ugh Spiny....its a crowded fence dont knock me off. I say let him start and the first bad moves its pine city.

Don't do it Torts.

Up 3-1 in the series and the game is in Washington where the fans will be more focused on Avery than the game. I say let the guy play and if he screws it up, then you scratch him for the next game. Torts has never been one to candy coat things so you let Avery know that's exactly what will hapeen if he doesn't play with a little more control.

Actually, from what I've seen in this series, he's handled the puck well and pressured in the corners. I think he's playing really well right now. However, he is taking some dumb, dumb penalties. For what has been talkied about for a while now about the unfair focus on him, referee-wise, he certainly hasn't seen his place to keep a low profile. For being suspended for words, I'm not sure how he hasn't been suspended yet for some of his actions in this series. Good stance on reality Bettman.

Early in the year I somewhat defended Avery and his role in the NHL. But to me, with what he's done since coming back, he's a coward. If you're going to punch someone, drop your gloves and punch someone.

As much as most people can't stand the guy, me included, he has provided the Rangers a spark in that series. The fact that Ovie is talking about him publicly shows that he has an impact. By putting him on the ice the refs are now tasked with watching him closer thereby giving the rest of the team a little more freedom. I thought he would be a nonfactor in this series but he has sparked the Rangers again. He was partly responsible for the first win in the series with the crafty tripping call that was missed...

Bench him, play Voros. He jus tdoesn't get it. They were two of the dumbest penalties I've ever seen during the playoffs.

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 09:33 AM ET  04.24 by Toronto Maple Leafs

Don't play him, he almost cost you the last game.

When Sean Avery sticks to his role, he is a great asset on the ice. You may not like him, but he is good at what he does. If Torts is smart he will just limit his ice time and obviously take him off the ice when the game is on the line.

santapig and metalcoconut (look at me agreeing with an Islanders' fan...I feel like playing "Kumbaya");
You guys are both on the $. he actually, aside from the nonsense, he has played pretty well. he goes into the corners, more often than not followed by two guys that want in the worst way to kill him. My only beef with him as a player is that he's missed two golden one-time slam dunks in games 3 and 4 (one each).
As far as benching him (like with Zhredev)...bad move, that's leaves them down a forward ina fast paced, high pressure game... I actually think if the Caps don't score within the firsdt 5-10 minutes, they are going to really start pressing (squeezing the ball too tight they say in baseball) and it could be a bigger problem. They are already on the verge of major frustration thanks to Henrik

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 09:33 AM ET  04.24 by Toronto Maple Leafs

Don't play him, he almost cost you the last game.

But he didn't in the end. So you go a cost/benefit analysis and dress him for the next game.

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 09:48 AM ET  04.24 by Spiny Norman

I actually think if the Caps don't score within the firsdt 5-10 minutes, they are going to really start pressing (squeezing the ball too tight they say in baseball) and it could be a bigger problem. They are already on the verge of major frustration thanks to Henrik

This will be the real issue. Can the Caps score. Even just 1 early goal won't be enough. They need at least 2.

I know it's not truly valid but when Ken Dryden as a 'not quite rookie even' stoned the big bad Bruins in 1971, the Bruins were so exasperated about their inability to score on him they basically got silly in their attempts. Desperation wasn't even an appropriate description.

The Caps right now are verging on that in my opinion.

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 09:37 AM ET  04.24 by DanTheMan09

Bench him, play Voros. He jus tdoesn't get it. They were two of the dumbest penalties I've ever seen during the playoffs.

Jesus, That is one of the exact reasons why the Rangers re-acquired Avery.

So put Voros in, someone who cant skate, stick handle, or pass. O ya and he takes dumb penalties just like Avery.

Question for you Hockey Night in Canada fans:

Is Don Cherry **** his pants that the Caps are on the verge of being eliminated?

QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 10:04 AM ET  04.24 by efizzle201

Question for you Hockey Night in Canada fans:Is Don Cherry **** his pants that the Caps are on the verge of being eliminated?

I think he might mention something about 'premature celebration' if Wash goes down but I honestly haven't heard him say much about it.

No matter what folks may think, Cherry does not dislike Ovechkin, just the horse hooey celebrations he is prone to.

Even though I personally picked Wash to advance to the final I can see a certain amount of karmic justice should Ovechkin fail to advance.

It really goes to show that the playoffs are what it's all about. Regular season means SFA.

QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 10:04 AM ET  04.24 by efizzle201

Question for you Hockey Night in Canada fans:Is Don Cherry **** his pants that the Caps are on the verge of being eliminated?

Don't discount the Caps. They could win tonight. Look at what is happening Pens/Philly and Devils/Hurricanes.

It isn't over, til it is over.

QUOTE(#18):

Originally posted 10:16 AM ET  04.24 by PensFan-DWI

Don't discount the Caps. They could win tonight. Look at what is happening Pens/Philly and Devils/Hurricanes.It isn't over, til it is over.

Never did say it was over. I just know that Cherry hates Ovie. I was just wondering if he was very happy with what was going on in the series.

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 09:48 AM ET  04.24 by Spiny Norman

santapig and metalcoconut (look at me agreeing with an Islanders' fan...I feel like playing "Kumbaya");

I actually think if the Caps don't score within the firsdt 5-10 minutes, they are going to really start pressing (squeezing the ball too tight they say in baseball) and it could be a bigger problem. They are already on the verge of major frustration thanks to Henrik

LOL! Nice. This is a great time for Washinton's role players to step up and show themselves in the playoffs. I haven't see most of the games but I have seen Ovie taking a lot of coverage and Henrik stand on his head a couple of times.