Monday, April 14, 2008

The New Avery Rule

Steve Zipay at Blue Notes reports...

"National Hockey League Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell issued the following advisory on the interpretation of Rule 75: Unsportsmanlike Conduct:

"An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty (Rule 75) will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender's face for the purpose of interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play."

So, Sean Avery's creativity, silly or not, has prompted a directive, as I mentioned would happen earlier.

The league moved rapidly. For that, some applause is deserved. Let me pose this: Imagine if Mike Rupp or Chris Simon had shadow-danced with Henrik Lundqvist without a call? Oh, the horror!"

...I'm glad the NHL acted quickly on this because, like Zipay says, Ranger fans would go nuts if in Game 4 Mike Rupp did the same thing to Lundqvist. And I suspect he would have. I love Avery, but the move was bush league.

...for anyone who missed it here's the video from last night...

5 comments:

bpette02 said...

I find nothing wrong with what Avery did last night. It wasn't against the rules at the time. Just like there's nothing in the rules about spraying ice on the goalie when he freezes the puck.

Kevin DeLury said...

While it wasn't against the rules, the only reason I'm against is for fear that it becomes a power play tactic for teams. I wouldn't be a fun of that.

Kevin DeLury said...

Or a fan of that either.

bpette02 said...

I think it's absurd that the NHL is adding or changing a rule in the middle of a play-off series. They should wait until next year to make a change.

Anonymous said...

It wasn't against the rules at the time and therefore no call was made, but Avery was told by official that next time it would be called. Avery made himself look like a monkey out there. That is not hockey, just play the game and stop acting like an idiot. But I guess no one on the rangers cares about playing fairly, i.e. Lundqvist thigh pads that come up to his eyeballs.