Avery set to return to lineup for Rangers
Photo credit: David L. Pokress | Rangers winger Sean Avery fights off a check from the Capitals' Brian Pothier during the 2009 playoffs.
Sean Avery
GREENBURGH, N.Y. - The last time Rangers fans saw Sean Avery on the ice at Madison Square Garden, he was a shadow of his yapping, irritating self in a 5-3 playoff loss to the Washington Capitals.
It was Game 6 of last spring's first-round series, and Avery had just returned from a benching by coach John Tortorella for taking unnecessary penalties in Game 4. Avery had an assist, but he was cautious, Henrik Lund-qvist was off his game and the Rangers were listless. Avery's panache returned in Game 7, but it wasn't enough. The Rangers blew a 3-1 series lead and were ousted from the postseason.
Sunday, when the Rangers (3-1-0) host the Anaheim Ducks and look to extend their winning streak to four, Avery will be in uniform after missing all three home preseason games and the first four games of the regular season with a sprained knee.
"I'm ready to go," Avery said. "It'll be nice. It's been a while since I've played at home . . . I had a pretty good training camp until I got hurt [in an accidental collision with Ryan Callahan in practice on Sept. 21]."
Avery regularly provides the Rangers with a spark - they are 61-26-17 with him in the lineup and 9-13-3 without him in two tours of duty - so his effort isn't to be questioned. Asked if Avery will help in the battles along the boards, Tortorella said: "If he wins 'em, yeah. That's Sean's identity, a hard forechecking guy. We're hoping that when he comes in, he adds that. That's the type of team we want to be, a pressure team."
Because he's traveled with the club, attended meetings and film sessions and watched from the press box, Avery said he won't have a problem. "The Xs and 0s are probably even more in my head because I've been up top watching . . . Everyone's adapted to it quite well . . . seems like it's getting better every game and that's all you can hope for."
Judging from practice, Avery, a left wing, could start on the fourth line with center Brian Boyle and Donald Brashear, replacing Aaron Voros. "I've played against him and he's [Avery] a pain in the neck," said the 6-6 Boyle, a former Duck who was traded to the Rangers for a third-round pick in 2010 on July 27. "He's got good speed and he brings a ton of energy."
With 48 goals in three seasons before last year, when he played just 41 games with Dallas and then the Rangers, who claimed him in a waiver deal, Avery also can provide offensive punch and won't remain a fourth-liner far beyond Sunday. With one spare forward on the roster, Avery will cause a domino effect.
"It's always good to have a push," Tortorella said.
Notes & quotes: Backup G Steve Valiquette will make his 2009-10 debut today. In the last two years, Valiquette is 10-8-5 when subbing for Lundqvist, who is expected to play tomorrow against the Maple Leafs.
