Hockeyhead

Cancel those fireworks, the NHL has suspended Dallas Stars’ forward Sean Avery indefinitely after the comments he made towards the Calgary Flames’ Dion Phaneuf.  Too bad, I was looking forward to seeing Avery put his money where his mouth is.  This probably marks the first time the league has suspended someone for comments about another player’s wife or girlfriend.  Boooo, might as well skip tonight’s game.

SL

Maybe Sean Avery is trying to gain a psychological edge in lieu of the Dallas Stars’ match-up in Calgary versus the Flames tonight, or maybe he really is crazy enough to want to tangle with Jarome Iginla and Dion Phaneuf.  Phaneuf, who is now romantically linked to Avery’s ex Elisha Cuthbert, was the latest target of the NHL’s resident agitator after Avery made these comments;

 ”I am really happy to be back in Calgary, I love Canada,” Avery told a group of reporters.  “I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds.  I don’t know what that’s about.  Enjoy the game tonight.”

This came a day after the Flames managed to deflect any questions regarding Avery’s comments earlier this season regarding Jarome Iginla.  He had called Iginla “boring” when referring to the NHL’s marketing campaigns that often include the Flames winger.  The latest comments from Avery, obviously directed at Dion Phaneuf, came this morning following the Dallas Stars’ morning skate.

Avery has come under a lot of criticism from the media and even some teammates this season for his actions both on and off the ice.  One thing is for sure, tonight’s game will probably involve some fireworks when Avery comes face to face with either Phaneuf or Iginla.

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Ron Wilson refused to make goaltender Vesa Toskala a fall guy for the team’s sub-par record this season despite his lousy play.  Now, coming off of his third great start in a row, head coach Wilson’s patience is paying dividends for a team looking for its identity.

Toskala stopped 32 shots versus the L.A. Kings to improve to 9-6-5 on the season while inching his save percentage closer to .900.  Toskala showed off his spectacular reflexes and mobility that carried the Leafs through most of last season.  The one goal he allowed was the first shot he faced; a defensive miscue left Alexander Frolov all alone for a breakaway.  Toronto answered with power-play goals from Matt Stajan and Mikhail Grabovski before Jeff Finger potted an empty netter for his 2nd goal of the season.

Finger’s strong physical and defensive play continued last night, he leveled Kings’ forward Oscar Moller with a devastating clean hit before dropping the gloves with Derek Armstrong who came to Moller’s rescue.

Injury Note:

Toronto RW Jamal Mayers did not play after the first period when he broke his hand after crashing into the net.  Mayers will likely miss a minimum of 3 weeks.

Photo courtesy of Yahoo! Sports

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