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December 27, 2007
NHL's discipline czar not coming after Orr or Avery
Checked in with the mastermind of the ‘97 playoff run who happens to be the czar of discipline for the NHL these days. No fine or suspension for Colton Orr. Ditto for Sean Avery.
However, Avery’s game misconduct for punching at Carolina’s Andrew Ladd while being restrained by a linesman goes on the ledger as one of three in that category of transgression that would add up to an automatic one-game suspension.
As for Avery’s feelings about going back to Toronto for the first time since the circus-like Nov. 10 visit, suffice to say the Pickering boy is hardly dying to see old friends and roam the old neighborhood. He had some pretty funny stuff to say that I’ll save for the paper.
Orr had cuts around his swollen right eye courtesy of the head-to-head impact of his collision with Matt Cullen in Wednesday night’s second period. Orr had left the locker room before reporters entered after the game. He gave his version today:
“I just cut through the middle of the ice and was just playing the man. We were both just cutting to the middle and I was just defending myself.”
Orr said he had “no idea” it was former teammate Cullen coming toward him before the hit.
“It doesn’t really matter,” he said. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt. You don’t want to hurt anybody.”
Line combos and D pairings were the same today in practice as the ones that produced Wednesday night’s victory over Carolina.
Tom Renney sounded like he would prefer not to bring a 23-man roster to Western Canada for the three-game trip that begins Jan. 2. So don’t be surprised if Nigel Dawes is back in Hartford again before then.
According to those close to the situation in Columbus, the Blue Jackets are neither hot for Petr Prucha nor particularly interested in acquiring a winger. They need centers and probably would be more interested in Brandon Dubinsky, though the Rangers have no interest in trading the strapping youngster.
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