For the past three games Sean Avery has been scratched from
the New York Rangers lineup, but I would expect that to change tomorrow against
the Boston Bruins. The team has lacked
energy and fire the last two games which combined with the fact that Boston is
a very physical/tough team I would expect coach John Torotorella to go back to
Avery for this tilt in Beantown. The key
for Avery will be to get back to agitating ways that have made him so effective
in the past, but do so while staying on the right side of line in terms of
penalties. A pestering Avery could be a
tremendous weapon for the Rangers not only tomorrow but in the playoffs and if
he can gain the trust of the coaching staff to play straddling the line how he
used to and not cross it the Rangers will be even more dangerous.
It is an open question who would come out of the lineup as there
are a few guys who are really struggling at the moment, but the odds on
favorite would have to be Wojtek Wolski, but I would not count out a move to
sit Mats Zuccarello for a game.
