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Rangers Thrash Talking


THRASH TALKING
RANGERS' PEST AVERY NO STRANGER TO PLAYOFFS
By LARRY BROOKS
SEAN AVERYApril 11, 2007 -- Sean Avery will make his NHL playoff debut tomorrow night in Atlanta, but this won't be the Rangers' catalytic converter's first big-league postseason experience. Far from it.

In 2002, as a 22-year-old rookie who split the season between Detroit and AHL Cincinnati, Avery practiced and traveled with the Red Wings throughout their march to a Stanley Cup championship.

"It was a terrific learning experience for me," said Avery, who yesterday celebrated his 27th birthday. "It taught me a lot about what it takes from both a physical and mental commitment to go all the way.

"You couldn't ask for more as a young player than to be able to soak in an education the way I did that year from the veteran leaders we had on that team. It's an experience that will definitely help me in my approach this year."

The veteran leaders on that team whose Cup victory was its third in six seasons included Steve Yzerman, Igor Larionov, Nicklas Lidstrom, Chris Chelios and Avery's current teammate, Brendan Shanahan.

Yesterday, Shanahan was asked if Avery made an impression on him during that time; if he remembered Avery skating with the extras.

"I'll tell you what I remember: I remember Scotty [Bowman] moving his locker out of the main room into the weight room either in the first or second round because Sean was so much of a yapper," Shanahan recalled rather gleefully. "Here's a kid who wasn't even dressing and all the stories in the papers seemed to be about him.

"There was just one too many Sean Avery exposes to suit Scotty, so he moved him down the hall. He didn't put him with the Black Aces (regular roster players who were consistent scratches), but kind of halfway down, on his own. It made the locker room much quieter, but getting through workouts became much more of a hassle.

"I think the one [story] that tipped the scales was the 'Win A Date With Sean Avery.' That was the straw that broke the camel's back."

Avery, who played 36 regular-season games with the Red Wings that year (five less than necessary to qualify for getting his name on the Cup), grimaced upon hearing Shanahan's account.

"You know what? I don't think it was Scotty at all who moved me out of the room," Avery said. "I think it was those guys, Brendan and Stevie."


*
Though Henrik Lundqvist returned to work after missing Monday's practice with cold- and flu-like symptoms, Jaromir Jagr missed yesterday's practice for the same reason. "Bit of a cold," Tom Renney said. ... Karel Rachunek, who went hard the previous two days attempting to come back from the MCL sprain he sustained March 13, was given yesterday off. ... Though the head coach allowed he might change his mind, Renney said he's leaning toward using Steve Valiquette, who also never has dressed for an NHL playoff match, as Lundqvist's backup for Game 1, even though Kevin Weekes is ready to go. ... Matt Cullen worked on the left point of the second power-play unit, with Paul Mara his partner and Shanahan, Avery and Marcel Hossa the forwards.


:cool:



Avery has been a huge catalyst for this team- i think he will make the hugest of differences in these playoffs.

[size=+3] - _/ _/ _/ Lets Go Rangers \_ \_ \_ - [/size]

Bdog10 wrote:

Transplant New Yorker now living in the ATL...Just bought 7 tix to the game on SAturday about 20 min ago. So let's go Ranger Fan's. Get your tix and show your love for the real boy's in Blue.

BTW...went to both regular season games down here And the place had a ton of Ranger Fans. I'm hoping it's the same for the playoff's.

LET'S GO RANGER'S

finally- someone whos proud the step up to the plate and be " that guy "

cheer, and cheer loud , Ranger Fans !

you wont be alone, there are always floods of NYR fans, at every venue across the globe.


enjoy the game !


my prediction for game 1 -


4-1 NYR :cool:

[size=+3] - _/ _/ _/ Lets Go Rangers \_ \_ \_ - [/size]

Bdog10 wrote:

Get your ass on a plane and get down here....

Good seats still availiable....unbelievable

dude

had i not returned to work this week after a 2 year disability stunt and being a healthy scratch, id be in my car driving there right now !


enjoy !

under 2 hours.

i left work early ( sick- yeah, right )

been a long time coming
for nearly 10 years now

since we had a post season victory

and what better thing to spoil then Game 1 of franchise playoff history at philips areana in hotlanta.

trash the trashers.

[size=+3] - _/ _/ _/ Lets Go Rangers \_ \_ \_ - [/size]