Sharks in troubled water and what's with the "reverse Avery?"
Monday, April 28, 2008 | 12:07 PM ET
Sucker punches, questionable hits, dives by superstars, stellar goaltending, spectacular collapses, more octopus hijinx and a future Hall of Famer does the “reverse Avery”.
Here are some notes from the weekend that was in the playoffs …
So let me get this straight, Sean Avery faces Martin Brodeur, waves his arms, gets his stick high, all in an effort to screen the netminder and he’s painted essentially as a war criminal who should be run out of the game. He’s making a mockery of the sport! What about sportsmanship? It’s so disrespectful and harmful to the league! Whatever are we going to do? The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
Anyone catch yesterday’s Rangers/Penguins game? Anyone else see Brendan Shanahan stand in front of Marc-Andre Fleury, raise his arms for the screen then raise his stick to obstruct the goalies view? Any talk about how Shanahan is ruining the game? Embarrassing the league? Shaming the sport?
Barely a peep from anyone, including the league.
As I wrote about before here on the blog, all Avery did was turn and face the goalie. For that, hockey purists went cuckoo for Coco Puffs. In fact, the reaction to Avery’s antics was worse than the act itself.
Let’s now, finally be straight on one thing, the NHL changed the rule because what Avery did was effective.
Dangerous, since you expose your back to the play, but we all love to talk about making physical sacrifices in the playoffs and I don’t know if I’ve seen one that could have had more serious repercussions.
Even if you detest Avery, you have to admit, that was a brave play.
Sticking with the Rangers, I still like them in this series against the Penguins, but they have to get the power play going … 0-for-6 with almost a full 12 minutes of time is not going to get it done.
Here fishy, fishy
**It was entertaining to see the Avalanche’s Cody McLeod pick up the octopus off the ice at Joe Louis Saturday afternoon and fling it down the hallway. The Colorado forward later explained he wanted to send a message to Detroit that this was going to be a war.
McLeod and others may want to re-think ever doing that again, just ask Jordin Tootoo of the Nashville Predators who did the same thing in the opening round.
The Wings are 2 and 0 when an opposing team’s player touches the calamari.
How Detroit Red Wing Valtteri Filppula’s hit from behind on Colorado’s Adam Foote was not even called is beyond me, but then again, I’ve given up trying to figure out what constitutes a hitting from behind penalty.
Price’s brief history
**The Habs may not be up 2-0 as they would have liked but most would agree even though they lost Game 2 they carried most of the play, out-shooting the Flyers 36-23.
The difference was clearly goaltending and Carey Price has a history (weird writing that about a rookie) of bouncing back with strong performances after shaky ones.
Even though he’s right and has a point, it sure was strange seeing Flyers head coach John Stevens admonishing a player for aggressive behaviour. Even Tom Kostopoulos admitted after Game 2 he should have cooled off before sucker punching Kimmo Timonen.
Sharks in troubled waters
**ESPN analyst Barry Melrose said it best on Hockey Night in Canada Radio last week when he intimated that the Sharks aren’t prepared to work to win games. After watching their collapse in the third period Sunday night anyone think he’s wrong?
And I’m sorry, if there has been a more overlooked defenceman in the NHL the past 20 years than Sergei Zubov, I haven’t seen him.
Playing in his first game since January 17th after sports hernia surgery, Zubov didn’t shoulder anywhere close to what he’s accustomed to (he only played 16:19 last night where he’s usually leading the team in the mid-20 mark) he slid into the game last night like an Olympic diver, without a ripple.
That pass to Mike Modano for the game winner may have looked like a pick-up hockey pass, but you have to admire the confidence to even attempt it.
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About the Author
Jeff Marek, one of sports talk radio's brightest stars, is the host of the all-new HNIC Radio on SIRIUS Satellite Radio. A twelve-year sports-talk radio veteran, the Toronto native provides intelligent hockey talk, insight and debate during the two-hour national daily drive-time hockey program.
Well known for his previous work on Leafs Lunch on AM 640 Toronto Radio, Marek is one of sports talk radio's most respected personalities. He joined AM 640 in 2000, hosting The Jeff Marek Show, a nightly open-line talk show, while working as the stations' morning news anchor. He quickly became the director of sports news and joined host Bill Watters on Leafs Lunch.
Recent Posts
- Stars' Game 4 win a "dead cat bounce"
- Thursday, May 15, 2008
- Leafs show mercy for Maurice
- Thursday, May 8, 2008
- Sharks in troubled water and what's with the "reverse Avery?"
- Monday, April 28, 2008
- Flames, Sharks taking series to the limit
- Tuesday, April 22, 2008
- Strategies for Canadiens, Bruins before Game 7
- Monday, April 21, 2008
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Comments
Dave
Halifax
Sorry, I'm not buying this comparison of Shanahan to a worthless worm like Avery. Shanahan has always shown a level of class as an athlete in the past (I'm sure he's getting frustrated like the rest of the Rangers with Pittsburgh) where Avery has never done anything of the sort. I don't blame Brodeur for not shaking his hand because Avery is hardly a so-called warrior of the NHL. I also believe he wasn't just standing in front of Brodeur screening the goalie. I'm pretty sure he was chirping off some things that were probably very inappropriate, even in the sprts arena. He has a history of doing things like that. It's a shame really, because he does have talent, unfortunately he spends too much time being a distraction to both opponents and teammates.
J. P., your last paragraph is just plain ridiculous. You may listen to his radio program, but you obviously don't know much about Hockey history. Dan Bouchard? I'd hardly put him in the same sentence as Billy Smith and Ron Hextall. Smith and Hextall were not only tough, but they were good at their position. In the end, Brodeur will be respected in the Hall of Fame (rightly so) and Avery will probably be ridiculed in the tabloids (also, rightly so). Milwaukee? Do they even play the game on a serious level there?
Posted April 30, 2008 06:12 AM
Super Robertson
Vancouver
If it weren't for the Avery Incident this Shanahan screen would have never been noticed. What Shanahan did has been done before, perhaps the timing and the team drew the fire. A Media story that you can sell as "the reverse Avery" is gold.
Posted April 29, 2008 06:56 PM
DJD
Kamloops,B.C.
Hey,people,I'M buying it.When I found out Avery was going to be a UFA,I WANT Vancouver to go out and get him.I'll take his kind of player ANY day over the over-paid excuses Van currently employs.OF COURSE Avery knew what he was doing to Broduer....I just love the Rocket Scientists saying his back was to the play and he didn't care what was happening.Also,Shanny did the EXACT same thing,brainiacs....different rules for different people.
Posted April 29, 2008 06:03 PM
J. P.
Milwaukee
This is why I listen to Sirius 122 every day on my way home from work. Jeff is absolutely right.
Let's not focus on Avery for a moment and let's look at BRODEUR'S lack of class for not shaking Avery's hand at the end of the series. Nothing screams poor sportsmanship louder than spitting on this NHL tradition, but the purists are all in Brodeur's corner, claiming it's "different".
Given his personal history outside hockey, this kind of thoughtlessness and lack of class are becoming a bit of a trademark for Martin Brodeur.
If Brodeur were any kind of man, like say, Ron Hextall, Dan Bouchard or Billy Smith, Avery wouldn't feel emboldened to enter his area on the ice.
Posted April 29, 2008 02:30 PM
Danny
Edmonton
Avery was being brave? Yea, good one. Avery brandinshes his stick like a machete and you call him 'brave'. Rubbish.
Posted April 29, 2008 02:25 PM
The Shadow
Thanks for setting this straight. I had it all wrong thinking that Brendan Shanahan was an exemplar of character and sportsmanship and Sean Avery was wart on the rump of the NHL. Thanks to your excellent reportage, I now realize that Shanny should be indicted as a cheater, but The PEST is the Hallmark of hockey courage.
So, here's to you, Mr. Marek. You are becoming the Sean Avery of internet typing. Frankly, I'd sooner read something presented by a serious hockey journalist.
Posted April 29, 2008 01:12 AM
m
vancouver
Sad, just sad that you would say that about Avery. His intent wasn't to screen Brodeur- he didn't even know where the puck was and he didn't care; his back was to the play the entire time! He only cared about mouthing off to Brodeur and propogating his position as huge douche. Please don't defend unsportsmanlike behaviour.
Posted April 28, 2008 06:11 PM
IKE
delaware
I agree with Jeff. in the NHL, more than in any other league, who you are determines what penalties are imposed and how the act is perceived. Avery doesn't get a walk like shanahan does. But, the same is true with the Flyers and the Canadiens(I am, admittedly a life-long Flyers fan). The Habs are perceived to be a skilled skating team, while the Flyers, in many minds, are still the "Broad Street Bullies". They get the benefit of the calls(simply refer to game 1! Not a goal, NOT a penalty!)
Posted April 28, 2008 06:07 PM
Chris
wpg
I think what Shanahan did was also pretty bad, but at least he was following the play. There's no way you can justify what Avery was doing. Waving you stick inches from a goalies face is just asking for trouble. If it's the inovative thought and effectiveness of what Avery did that you like so much, maybe you'd appreciate a player squirting the goalie's water bottle in his face while the puck's in their end. That would be innovative and effective.
Posted April 28, 2008 05:15 PM
Tom
Vancouver
Give it up Jeff. Stop taking Avery's side just to be controversial, no one is buying it.
Posted April 28, 2008 04:50 PM