Sean Avery Up to Old Tricks in Second Game of His Comeback

Avery's second game back was an AHL game between the affiliates of the Rangers and the Islanders. The Bridgeport Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the first period and held on to it for the rest of the game. They out-shot the Hartford Wolf Pack 32-23.

Hartford was playing without defense-man Vladimir Denisov, who was suspended for four games for a blow to the head of a Lake Erie Monsters player in a game last Friday. Hartford forward Brandon Sugden was suspended for two games for an infraction in the same game.

It was Avery's second game with the Wolf Pack and just the second time he has been in a game since the start of December, when he was dropped by the Dallas Stars.

In the second period of the game against the Tigers, the intensity heated up as, Avery got in shouting matches with Pascal Morency at the start of the period and Tyler Haskins, according to a press release from OurSportsCentral, with four minutes remaining in the period. As Avery was stirring things up, Hartford had the best chance of the period.

Sean Avery had two shots and was a minus-1 in his second game with the Hartford Wolf Pack. He was up to his old antics late in the second period, according to Newsday. In the crease on a power play, Avery was knocked into goaltender Nathan Lawson, who got up and hit Avery, who then shoved Lawson.

The Tigers converged on Avery, especially Tyler Haskins. On the next face-off, Avery punched Haskins without a call. At the end of the period, Avery stood at the gate laughing at the Tigers as they exited the ice

Avery created another chance with 1:18 left but Lawson denied the shot from the right side, according to the Hartford Courant.

Avery said he felt better than in his Wolf Pack debut Saturday night, according to a press release from OurSportsCentral.

"As far as battles go and getting hits, it was better on the lungs than in the first game, so I'm happy about that," said Avery, who had two shots and was on the ice for the only goal. "They were coming at me from the start of the game, and I was a little quiet, which takes a little away from my game. Then I started to give back a little of what I was getting, which makes me play better.

"I'm targeted, but I know I did it eight years ago. They're all trying to get to the next level, so they wouldn't be doing their job if they didn't go after me. I'm not too happy about the loss, but I feel better for sure."

Tigers goalie Nathan Lawson got a snow-spray shower from Avery and a bump or two, according to the Connecticut Post.