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After getting two game misconducts, next one a suspension for Stars' Avery(Dallas Morning News, The Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The NHL gives players a cushion of two game misconduct penalties for the season _ a warning they need to keep themselves in line. Sean Avery used both of his lifelines Saturday night against Nashville. Avery, the much-ballyhooed agitator who signed a four-year, $15.5 million contract with the Stars in the summer, received an automatic game misconduct penalty for participating in a "second altercation" _ a fight away from a fight that had already started. He then received a second game misconduct penalty for arguing with referees. So Avery's next game misconduct penalty will result in a suspension. In addition, any subsequent game misconduct penalties will result in additional suspensions. Bottom line, he has used up room for grace he might have had with the NHL. "That's just something that we will have to be aware of," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. The teams got into a skirmish in the first period of a 3-1 Dallas loss after Nashville winger Jordin Tootoo got into a scrum with Stars goalie Marty Turco, a battle started by a Tootoo slash on Turco, Tippett said. The overflow from that was a roughing call on Tootoo, a double-minor for roughing on Steve Ott, a fighting penalty on B.J. Crombeen and a fighting penalty on Nashville's Greg deVries. All of that action took place near the net. However, by the bench, Avery and Nashville defenseman Dan Hamhuis started fighting. Hamhuis said Avery started it. "The refs weren't watching," Hamhuis told reporters in Nashville. "They were huddled in the corner and not watching what was going on. If they were watching the play, he would have had an instigator, and he would have been kicked out, and I should have stayed in the game. "It's frustrating to be kicked out of the game when I didn't do anything wrong, but that's the rules." The players were originally sent to the penalty box, and Avery appeared to be arguing with the referee. He also appeared to be arguing with a fan when he was in the penalty box. It was announced in the building that he received a game misconduct and a 10-minute misconduct penalty. He was led out of the penalty box and off the ice. Under Rule 40.5 (I), a game misconduct penalty can be given to: "Any player or goaltender who, after being assessed a misconduct penalty, persists in challenging or disputing the ruling of an official." Tippett said the Stars have much larger concerns than Avery's situation after starting the year 0-1-1. Jere Lehtinen (groin) skated Sunday and could be ready to return to the lineup Wednesday when the Stars host the Predators in a rematch. "We have a few days to practice, to work hard and to get our game in order. That's our focus right now," Tippett said. ___ (c) 2008, The Dallas Morning News. Visit The Dallas Morning News on the World Wide Web at http://www.dallasnews.com/ Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. Copyright ? 2008 The Dallas Morning News |