NHL high seeds try and break bad juju

One of the most feared predators on the planet is the shark. They come in all sizes and shapes in the water, from the 50-foot whale shark, to the fiercest meat-eating monster, the Great White. Not every shark is consider a danger to man, like the pygmy ribbontail catshark, which is 6 to 7 1/2 inches in length or the oft times docile San Jose Sharks, who are almost timid when April and May come around.

If this team were based in New Orleans, an exorcism would be preformed to break the curse, because no team could be as continually brilliant year after year in the regular season and fold like a cardboard box in the postseason. Maybe the these Sharks need one of the teams from CSI or the gang from Criminal Minds to determine a profile as what the - H E double hockey sticks - is wrong with this team.

In Game 1 against outclassed Colorado club, the Avs Chris Stewart fires centering pass into toward the goal and San Jose’s Rod Blake’s skate redirects the puck past helpless goalie Evgeni Nabokov with 50 seconds in the game to give the Avalanche unexpected 2-1 road win.
Game 2 the Sharks out-shoot Colorado 52-22, but need goal with 32 seconds to tie and eventually win in OT.

Game 3 was tense scoreless struggle thru regulation, although all the pressure was on Avs netminder Craig Anderson, with San Jose putting on relentless pressure with incomprehensible 42-7 edge in shots on goal the last two periods. Just as fans were getting back in their seats for OT, San Jose’s Dan Boyle’s errant pass managed to beat his own goalie and Colorado led in series 2-1.

“We didn’t beat their goalie,” Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. “We found a way to beat ours.”
Exasperation can’t describe the emotions San Jose players and fans have to be feeling, as they have seen this remake of Bill Murray’s “Groundhog Day” before and they are 4-10 in road games after losing their previous game in overtime.

Colorado is playing like they are walking around with four-leaf clovers under their sweaters and are 10-1 on home ice after winning in extra session. San Jose is a -160 money line favorite with total of 5.5 at Bookmaker.com and has to feel they are firing the puck into 1x1 black hole area, with Anderson stoning everything. The Sharks are a very lonely 3-9 in last dozen road games.

Another team that needs a hug is second seeded New Jersey, who must hate orange and black. If hockey periods were like boxing scoring, the Devils would probably be ahead 5-2-2 on points thru three games, yet trail 2-1 to Philadelphia after Daniel Carcillo’s overtime goal in Game 3.
New Jersey is now 2-7 against Philly this season and just don’t seem to matchup up well against them and the Flyers have great confidence facing the Devils.

That feeling of confidence has extended to goalie Brian Boucher, who is playing only because of injuries to top two Philadelphia netminders and is seeking the most improbable of journey’s, trying to lead the Flyers to East Finals, like he did a decade ago.

Philadelphia is 8-3 on their pond over New Jersey the last three seasons and is currently a +100 underdog, with the Devils 2-8 as road favorites.

Unless New Jersey can break the spell the Flyers have over them, they might be headed back home down 3-1 in the series.

Fire-up Friday

Had to miss yesterday working on the NBA, but have two plays in MLB action that are solid 76.9 percent, but below our standard. The Yankees are in our Top Trend, is it good or bad and the Left Coast Connection has a NHL play. Good Luck

What I thought today- After this week, I should know everything about NHL and NBA playoffs with all the studying I’ve put in. (That doesn’t guaranteed I’ll win money however.)

On Twitter at: http://twitter.com/3Dailywinners

Free Baseball System -1) Play Against all teams with a money line of -100 to -150 after two straight games where they stranded 10 or more runners on base, playing on Friday. This system is 30-9 the last four years, which means to play against the Dodgers and Twins.

Free Baseball Trend -2) The Yankees are 54-15 after two straight games where they committed no errors.

Free Hockey Pick -3) The LCC consensus has New Jersey bouncing back in Game 2 over Philly nine to zero.

NHL Playoff Preview – Eastern Conference

Normally, there would be a great deal of clamor about a young, though veteran squad that was seeking a second straight Stanley Cup and third consecutive appearance in the finals. However, all is quiet about Pittsburgh on the Eastern Conference front with the season Washington had. The Capitals are the most dominating offensive team in hockey, as they scored 96 more goals than No. 2 seed New Jersey (allowed 42 more) and the second best scoring team was Vancouver, who was a distant 46 goals behind. If defense wins championships, then Washington is the wrong choice in a conference with only three teams with legit chance to play for Stanley Cup. All lines courtesy of Bookmaker.com.

(1) Washington vs (8) Montreal

How good has Washington been? The Caps are first team in four years to ring up 300 or more goals and have seven snipers that but the puck over the line 20 or more times. Alex Ovechkin is arguably the most dominating offensive player in the game and Mike Green led all NHL defenseman in points. Washington was 30-11 at home, but six of those losses came in overtime. Rejuvenated Jose Theodore has been nearly unbeatable for three months, as his only three losses in 23 starts have come after three periods of play (20-0-3).

Sure Montreal comes in as the eighth seed, performing worse than Kate Gosselin on DWTS with three wins in last 11 outings, but those sweaters are still Le Bleu-Blanc-et-Rouge. The Canadiens might have an edge in speed in their offensive end, but they look like pip-squeaks compared the Washington blue-liners. That would leave Jaroslav Halak to have to stand on his head in net against Capitals onslaught.

These teams split four games, each winning on the other’s frozen pond, but Washington is the top overall choice to win the Cup at +275 and should sweep if focused and win in five if not, being better in all areas against Les Habitants.

3DW Pick- Washington (-565) in four over Montreal (+465)

(2) New Jersey vs (7) Philadelphia

Typically, the second seed would be thrilled their first round opponent had to fight until the 82nd game to make the postseason tournament, however that is not the case with New Jersey. The Devils had a devil of a time, losing five of six times to Philadelphia. New Jersey plays defensive-style, conceding the fewest goals at 2.3 per contest with the remarkable Martin Broduer in front of the cage. Offensively, the Devils are not imposing beyond Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk and they enter the playoffs 22-8 having won three of previous four.

The Flyers are better than what they showed losing eight of 12 (they did win three of final four to sneak in) to gain entry into the playoffs. Philadelphia has components that could lead to upset. Philly is ranked third in the league in power play conversion at 21.5 percent and a respectable 11th on penalty kills. It’s not a coincidence the ’06 Edmonton squad and ’07 Anaheim club were in the finals with Chris Pronger manning the blue line, as he always elevates his play in the postseason. The wild card is third string goalie Brian Boucher, whose been forced to play with others injured. He helped the Flyers make the playoffs, can he lead the upset?

If Philadelphia can light the lamp on man-advantages and curtail New Jersey’s chances, an upset is in the making.

3DW Pick- Philadelphia (+195) in seven over New Jersey (-235)

(3) Buffalo vs (6) Boston

Two teams from the old Adams Division (circa 1974-93) will chase the puck in the third of three first round division matchups. Both Buffalo and Boston had surprising seasons, the Sabres for winning the division with relative ease and the Bruins for scuffling just to make the playoffs after having the most points in the East last season. Watch the total in Buffalo, as these clubs are 8-1 UNDER.

The series is about finding bodies that can produce on the ice. Buffalo has players at less than 100 percent like Tim Connolly, Jochen Hecht and Drew Stafford, which means goalie extraordinaire Ryan Miller will play a key role in Buffalo advancement. If Miller can almost singlehandedly take the USA to Olympic gold, he can certainly contain Boston’s feeble attack. The Sabres split four contests with division partner.

Boston has a number of players out and it’s hard to comprehend a team could be in playoffs after finishing 30th in goals scored, nonetheless, here the Bruins are. Boston suffered a 10-game losing streak from the middle of January into February. They had a stretch of scoring more than three goals once in 19 contests, yet managed to win six of last nine games (all losses by one goal). Coach Claude Julien had to do the unthinkable, turn his team’s fortunes over to 22-year-old Tuukka Rask between the pipes. Though Rask was named starter just 39 times, he led the NHL in both goals-against average and save percentage.

3DW Pick- Boston (+145) in six over Buffalo (-165)

(4) Pittsburgh vs (5) Ottawa

Whether it’s an 8 vs. 9 in the NCAA basketball tournament or 4 vs. 5 in the NBA or hockey playoffs, the presumption is a tight game or series is the forecast. This however is not the case in this Eastern confrontation. The talented Penguins waddled thru the regular season and flip the switch in mid-April. After losing to Detroit in 2008 Finals, Pittsburgh was less than inspired the next season finishing fourth, the very same position they are in presently, on the way to being champions.

Pittsburgh has Sid Crosby and the defending NHL scoring champ Evgeni Malkin, who was hampered by injuries most of the season. He played in 66 games, but was a factor in maybe half and had an off year. Though Pitt’s often dynamic duo will receive light criticism for indifference during the regular season, no player is more emblematic of his team than enigmatic Marc-Andre Fleury. He’s a latter day Grant Fuhr of the Edmonton glory days with Wayne Gretzky and the gang.

Ottawa is more unstable than some of the people that sit with Dr. Phil. The Senators had 11-game winning streak right before Valentine’s Day and a six-game stretch without a defeat afterwards. Throw those in the blender with a four and two 5-game losing streaks and it’s easy to decipher Ottawa as having multiple personalities for extended periods. A bit of research dug up these facts about the Senators that are very telling about their mental makeup. Ottawa is 21-4 SU when leading after first 20 minutes and is 4-24 SU when trailing.

3DW Pick- Pittsburgh (-275) in five over Ottawa (+235)

Half Season NHL Report

The National Hockey League will soon be taking a break due to the Olympics and with most at or past the halfway point of the season, determined this would be a good time to check in wagering aspects of all the teams. We’ll blend the team thoughts along with betting units for each team to create a perspective.

Eastern Conference

New Jersey (41-12, +17 units) The Devils have rekindled the magic, thanks to a group of hard-working players who rededicated themselves to playing New Jersey hockey and the front office replenished the depth. The Devils come at teams in waves and goalie Martin Brodeur is as sharp as ever. New Jersey’s 15-5 road record speaks to mindset.

Buffalo (28-16, +6.7 units) Buffalo was one of the first teams to adjust to the rule changes a few seasons ago, having faster players that could really work. They never got beyond being a good regular season team, however this season a case could be made presently that net-minder Ryan Miller is the league MVP for team on the rise again. This club is solid wager.

Washington (27-17, +3.2 units) Top scoring team in the league, led by Alex Ovechkin who is playing like a man on a mission. Goaltending is very suspect, which makes them a so-so bet for a top flight squad.

Pittsburgh (28-19, -0.7 units) The defending Stanley Cup champions have not been known for big first half efforts since they became elite team. They are burdened with inflated money lines, making each lost costly and they will go thru the motions for a stretch of games. They were four seed last year and won it all, will likely settle in same area and look to save energy for playoff run.

Montreal (22-25, -1.9 units) Fans of the Canadiens yearn for the days of the up and down the ice high-flyers. This team is in the bottom 15 percent of goals scored per game and goalies Jaroslav Halak or Carey Price essentially have to stand on their heads most night to give Montreal a chance.

Florida (18-27, -2.9 units) No name team that hasn’t make the postseason since 2000. The only reason they are a halfway decent wager is because they are almost .500 on the road, receiving heavy numbers from oddsmakers.

N.Y. Islanders (19-27, -3.5 units) The Eastern Conference is not stuffed with many good hockey teams, which is why the Isles still have a opportunity at the playoffs. To have any chance, the Islanders have to improve -26 goal differential.

Ottawa (22-24, -4.9 units) The Senators have hung in their despite losing their best scorer from last season and crummy goaltending. Credit coach Cory Clouston for keeping this afloat. Watch carefully however, this team could go south with more holes than Dunkin Donuts.
Atlanta (19-25,-5.9 units) Nothing like a nine-game losing streak to ruin what was shaping up to be a good first half of the season the Thrashers. It’s hard to tell what is worse right now, the defense or the goaltending.

N.Y. Rangers (22-23, -6.1 units) Think the Rangers have trouble scoring? Since Nov. 24, the Blueshirts have scored more than three goals three times (22 games). If Marian Gaborik were to get injured, the Rangers would likely be on a two goals max limit. Doesn’t goalie Henrik Lundqvist really deserve this?

Philadelphia (22-22, -6.3 units) Easily the most disappointing team in the East. Continual non-efforts cost John Stevens his coaching job and things haven’t improved much. Talented squad mired in mediocrity makes this a “stay away” from wager unless they collectively decide to play.

Boston (22-22, -7.3 units) If the Bruins had a consistent attack to light the lamp, they would be a super wager, since defensively they are among the best. For the most part they just pepper the net with mediocre shot attempts that high school goalie could stop and waste defensive efforts most nights, making them unsafe bet.

Tampa Bay (17-27, -7.9 units) Lousy record doesn’t tell the whole story. The Lightning is 2-10 in OT, including unlucky 0-6 in shootouts. If Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis start playing up to capabilities, this becomes dangerous play on team in hunt for playoff berth.

Toronto (15-31, -16.1 units) The Maple Leafs needed eight games to register initial victory and five more contests to reach two wins. Who has the league’s worst penalty killing outfit and allows the most goals, you don’t have to read the Hockey News to figure that out.

Carolina (13-31, -16.5 units) Did this team really win the Stanley Cup three and half years ago and make the East Finals last season! There had been talk this team was running on fumes last year, turns out to be true.

Western Conference

Nashville (27-19, +10 units) The biggest surprise for hockey bettors is the play of the Predators. Nashville doesn’t score a lot of goals, however receives contributions from a smorgasbord of players. Back-stops Pekka Rinne and Dan Ellis are like a dependable restaurant, good every time and there is no apparent reason why Nashville can’t keep winning and building bankrolls.

Colorado (26-21, +8.7 units) First year coach Joe Sacco deserves all the credit for molding this young squad into cohesive unit, with most experts seeing them in the Northwest Division basement by now. Not certain the youngsters can hold it together for the second half, more likely a play on-play against team depending on the streak.

Chicago (31-15, +7.5 units) Blackhawks fans can hardly believe their eyes; they have one of the best teams in the NHL after years of spendthrift ways. Chicago has exciting young talented snipers, a stingy defense and the best penalty kill unit in the game. Stanley Cup contender without injuries.

Phoenix (26-20, +7.0 units) Let’s get this straight, this team was in bankruptcy court, hired their present coach one week before the season started, while presumably headed for relocation and only four teams have more points than the Coyotes! Now it makes sense. If Shane Doan can start playing as well as netminder Ilya Bryzgalov, this might be another Miracle on Ice.

Los Angeles (25-21, +3.7 units) The Kings have suffered key injuries to some of its veteran players and still produced a winning record. With these players close to 100 percent, Los Angeles could match their early season success the rest of the way.

Vancouver (27-19, +3.3 units) The Olympics are in Vancouver, which could ruin a good season for the Canucks. Starting at the end of this month, Vancouver has to play eight road games before the break, after the Olympics, six more road games for a total of FOURTEEN straight games away from home. They are 9-11 on the road thus far.

San Jose (29-17, +1.8 units) From talent perspective, the best team in the West and probably the NHL. The problem is the Sharks are boring to bet. Heavy money lines mean soft wins and losses are like beaten eaten by sharks. Similar to New York Yankees, play on when in hot streak to show a profit before the losses hit.

Minnesota (23-23, +1.2 units) Minnesota’s 3-9 start really put them behind the curve and they have rebounded nicely to be .500. Distinct wagering qualities about the Wild - 15-7 at home and 8-16 on the road.

Calgary (26-20, -0.5 units) Jarome Iginla leads two good scoring lines for Calgary who has been somewhat forgotten in the Northwest Division with the play of Colorado. Miikka Kiprusoff is having his best year in net since the lockout and the Flames should be a consistent team in the second half.

Anaheim (20-26, -5.9 units) Too many personnel losses on the blue line have robbed this team of what used to be a reliable defense. The goaltending has been below average, complicating the situation. Even the ability to score is no help from a team that was this close to being in the Stanley Cup Finals last June.

Detroit (23-21, -6.9 units) Perhaps no team has been bitten by the injury bug to its most important players than the Red Wings. If most everyone can come back healthy by March, Detroit suddenly becomes a club nobody wants to face and could string a number of wins together at a fairer value for bettors.

Dallas (19-26, -7.9 units) Dallas is ordinary at best, picking up points in overtime losses, which only helps on the puck line at +1.5. Nothing points to rally or slipping further into the abyss, just continued triviality.

St. Louis (18-26, -8.9 units) It looks like the Blues second half surge from a season ago was a mirage and coach Andy Murray was recently jettisoned. With one of the poorer offenses around, this club is like a bad stock, dump it.

Edmonton (16-28, -11.2 units) What’s the best same to sum up Oilers? Inferior at home with 9-14 mark and rotten on the road with 7-14 record. Oh yea, one more thing, one of the worst defenses in the NHL. That about sums up Edmonton.

Columbus (18-29, -13.5 units) Columbus made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history last season and has followed up that joyous occasion by stinking up the joint at almost every turn. Even the home ice has yellow tint.

Need a Profile for Winning NHL Wagers?

All of us have heard endlessly that defense wins championships, which is fine if you are betting in the postseason of a particular sport or the final game or series of games. However, the vast majority of action occurs during the regular season in any every sport, giving us countless more chances to win. With the NHL on the backside of their regular season, decided to see what characteristics one could find in determining winning hockey wagers.

Other than in Canada, the vast majority of people are now betting the money line in the NHL, based on its simplicity of having winners and losers, without a puck line (spread) to deal with. Here is the list of the Top 5 money-making teams in the NHL at this given moment with their true won/loss records.

1) Boston 38-14 +19 units
2) San Jose 36-12 +13.9 units
3) Washington 33-19 +10 units
4) New Jersey 32-19 +9.7 units
5) Calgary 30-20 +5.7 units

It is not a coincidence that each of these five teams leads their respective divisions. The only team missing is Detroit, who should creep back up in this list; however, they are like the New York Yankees, with bloated numbers placed on them. When the Red Wings lose as -200 to -300 favorites, it takes a toll trying to recoup those losses.

What do these teams do that separates them from the pack to win games and beat betting lines, they score goals. Fine, it’s not solving the current financial crisis; nonetheless it opens the door to potential wagering wealth. Here are the top scoring teams in the NHL.

1) Detroit
2) Boston
3) Washington
4) San Jose
5) Chicago

If you score on a consistent basis, your chances of winning are significantly increased. I know this sounds like Fox’s Tim McCarver in stating the obvious, but too often we can become overindulged in trying to find every edge imaginable, we lose sight of the obvious. Noted baseball expert and historian Bill James, probably said it best, “The idea of team sports is to score more than the other team.” Detroit making this group is not a surprise and Chicago actually has a winning record for the first time in years (28-21), because, they can score.

Next I took a gander at the importance of fast starts in a game and looked at from two angles. The first part of this study was to understand importance of scoring first and secondly, what scoring goals in the first period meant.

Scoring First
1) Detroit
2) San Jose
3) Vancouver
4) Boston
5) Philadelphia

In the 2008-09 campaign, seeing three of the top four teams here is not earth-shattering, as they pounce on opponents and keep the pressure on for 60 minutes. Philadelphia is close to showing a profit, with Vancouver the only anomaly. New Jersey and Washington are one goal behind Philadelphia, thus right in the mix.

Goals Scored 1st Period

1) San Jose
2) Chicago
3) Washington
4) Detroit
5) Boston

Very similar to above, as the more talented squads are able to secure an early lead and force the competition to play catch-up, which has been shown this season, the opposing teams don’t do very well.

The next category was team’s abilities to either close out games or come from behind which either did or could lead to victory. Deeper, more talented clubs have the resources to wear down inferior opposition and win presumably close games. Here are the best teams for goals scored in the 3rd period.

1) Boston
2) Washington
3) Detroit
4) Atlanta
5) Calgary

By now, the picture should start to look like a Vizio flat panel HDTV.

To wrap up our study of profiling winning bets in the NHL, we addressed the segment of power play goals. Since the strike season, a greater emphasis has been placed on special teams, meaning those that can either score with man advantage situations or are skilled as penalty killers, have a distinct edge in most games. Staying with our theme of scoring goals, hockey teams that can put the pressure on in the offensive zone have a real advantage. This can lead to opposing teams being out of position, playing scared, trying to not make a miscue. This can lead to goals or taking penalties, which leads to more scoring chances for these offensive-minded clubs. Here are the top 5 teams in power play goals scored this year.

1) Detroit
2) San Jose
3) Washington
4) St. Louis
5) Boston

Living in a very complicated world, sometimes taking the easiest route can be the most profitable.

NHL Quick Starts or Fast Failures

The second half of the NHL season commences and questions surround many teams. All the players know it is time to get serious and start building to the end season and either secure playoff positions or improve them to each teams liking. Hockey bettors are seeking angles of value to be placed in the right spot in order to capitalize on opportunity. Here is a look at various teams and what might happen short term, based on numerous factors.

In the Western Conference, the races are much tighter, with the difference between the fifth slot and 13th just 10 points. Phoenix holds the fifth position at present. They will call upon coach Wayne Gretzky for leadership. The franchise is in financial turmoil, with team owner Jerry Moyes having his own money challenges and the team reportedly losing 30 million a year. With the Coyotes having a realistic shot at first playoffs since 2002, the distractions outside the rink could undermine was has been a surprising season.

Edmonton is next in line in the West and was 7-3 before the All-Star break and would like to continue momentum starting with four home games before packing for the road seven of the next eight. Vancouver slid terribly before the break with 2-8 money line record and coach Alain Vigneault is feeling his seat being set to simmer unless the Canucks start playing well again. Like the Oilers, the four home games have to be taken advantage of, as seven of following eight will be away.

Minnesota is currently ninth in the West and many hockey pundits like the fact they have allowed the fewest goals in the conference and manage to overlook they are tied with Los Angeles for next to last in goals scored. The Wild is only 13-12 on home ice and better take advantage of 8 of 11 in their own rink to start second half. Columbus is right with Minnesota and has played significantly better at home with 13-8 mark and opens with seven of eight in Nationwide Arena.

Dallas also is getting calls to climb back in based on history and experience. Most hockey experts can’t see goalie Marty Turco playing any worse (dismal .885 save percentage) and if he returns just too normal, let alone getting hot, the Stars could sneak in.

In the East, Pittsburgh is in 10th slot and a long way away from last spring’s Stanley Cup finals. Yes, there has been a ton of injuries the Penguins, however they have played more like they have been in denial they didn’t win the Cup last season. Whatever the reasons, WAY too much talent not to make the playoffs.

Florida starts one point behind Carolina for final position in the Eastern Conference and will play nine of 13 in south Florida and will have to do better .500 at home ice.

Buffalo has moved up with 7-3 run and is playing more team hockey. If the Sabres can keep playing with the same togetherness, they could catch Philadelphia, who starts the second half with five of six in road uniforms, though Tampa Bay, St. Louis and Atlanta are all very winnable road encounters.

Montreal might be shopping for veteran net-minder and are assigned nine of 13 games away from home to commence second half.

New Jersey was an afterthought after losing goaltender extraordinaire Martin Brodeur, somehow they managed to keep playing Devils hockey and Scott Clemmensen has been very solid between the pipes with 19-10 record. New Jersey won seven of 10 before the All-Star game to take over first place in the Atlantic and is just two points out of second place in the East behind Washington, plus rumors are circulating Brodeur could be back in five to six weeks. Watch the Devils; they could be turning up the heat.

Does Sean Avery Deserve a Break?

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. Unfortunately for the cantankerous Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery, the playground proverb did not hold up in the NHL court of conduct.

Two weeks ago prior to a game against Calgary, Commissioner Gary Bettman cold-cocked Avery with a six-game suspension after making “comments detrimental to the league” regarding his ex-girlfriends and fellow hockey players.

Here is Avery’s statement in its entirety: “I'm really happy to be back in Calgary; I love Canada. 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, but enjoy the game tonight.”

The 28-year old Avery, who just signed a four-year 15.5 million dollar contract with Dallas, offered “building excitement” for the game that evening as his alibi. Hollywood actress Elisha Cuthbert is Avery’s old flame and is currently dating Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf.

Sounds about right to me…one hockey player talking trash about his opponent’s girlfriend in hopes of getting into his head and getting a rise out of him for some quality entertainment? Isn’t that why hockey fans go to games anyway? To watch these men on skates beat each other’s brains out? And they walk away disappointed if the gloves don’t drop at least once a night.

I am not trying to defend that what Sean Avery said was copacetic. His remarks were off-color and no professional athlete should leverage his status to speak in a derogative manner toward anyone – especially women. These guys are privileged to be playing sports for millions of dollars and most don’t possess the intelligence to make a comment without offending someone so they should keep their mouths shut.

But I am going to argue that Avery’s punishment was not reasonable.

Let’s examine a couple of the most recent suspensions handed out in the National Hockey League. On November 14, New York Islanders defenseman Thomas Pock was banned five games for an ill-advised elbow to the head of Ottawa Senators forward Ryan Shannon. The blow concussed Shannon and he does not recall the incident. Days later, a two-game suspension was placed on the New Jersey Devils Mike Mottau for a hit that put his victim out of commission for 12 weeks with head and leg injuries.

These guys do a lot more than talking on the ice and the sticks they use do break bones. But Sean Avery gets six games for two words?

Precedent set in a league surrounded in criminal turmoil seems to be even softer. Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson slaps a woman in the face at a bar and only got suspended a single game. Matt Jones of the Jacksonville Jaguars got caught cutting up lines of cocaine with a Wal-Mart card in a parking lot and is disciplined with a three-game banishment.

Did Sean Avery carry a weapon into a public setting, did he physically attack another person or test positive for any kind of illegal drug? No. In an attempt to possibly be humorous, he made a remark about his former love affairs.

What happened to freedom of speech in this country?

Plus, it isn’t like this is the first time (or last) a celebrity has made her way around NHL locker rooms. Remember Anna Kournikova? I’m sure there was worse said about her among the hockey sewing circles, maybe just not publicly.

In 2004 the outspoken wife of MLB pitcher Kris Benson told Howard Stern on his radio show that if her hubby was ever unfaithful to her and got caught, she would have sex with the entire Mets team – including the bat boys. Anna Benson’s remarks were not crude but amusing. Probably not something you want the kids to overhear, much like Avery’s, but not much different than something they might encounter on late night cable.

Avery’s first game eligible to return from suspension would be tonight against the Phoenix Coyotes but he won’t be in the Dallas Stars locker room come game time.

As of Sunday, the organization has decided to part ways with Avery. Details of Avery’s termination are still up in the air but the Stars could trade him (if any teams have interest), send him to the minor leagues or buy out his contract next summer.

Since entering the league in 2001, Sean Avery has quickly become what Dennis Rodman was to the NBA during his tenure. An agitator, the most-hated player in hockey and some have even called him an embarrassment to the sport.

Avery is currently dealing with his personal problems. In addition to the six-game suspension, Avery was requested to enter a 10-day anger counseling and treatment program where he is addressing his “who gives a crap” attitude.

But the NHL and Commissioner Bettman crossed the blue line of injustice while handling this matter.

Forget about the six games without pay, they might have cost an athlete his future in professional hockey. Many, many athletes have done far worse and have received far less in terms of punishment.

I think he deserves another chance. After all of this, maybe Sean Avery has learned to clean up some of his own sloppiness.


Scott Cooley is a freelance write and make contributions at 3Daily Winners and other locales. If you agree or disagree let Scott know here.