New York Islanders' Wisnieweski Deserves Suspension For Gestures Toward Avery

It isn't shocking that Rangers' winger and agitator- extraordinaire Sean Avery is at the center of controversy. What is shocking, though, is that he is playing the victim.

With about five minutes remaining in the first period during Monday afternoon's 6-4 loss at the hands of the New York Islanders, Avery gave a small snow-shower to Isles' goaltender Rick DiPietro.

Islanders' defenseman James Wisnieweski took exception to it, and rather than shove Avery aside, he decided to make an obscene hand-to-mouth gesture towards Avery.

I don't think there is any doubt that Wisniewski didn't deserve a penalty, but he does deserve a suspension, even if it is just one game.

Let's go back in time to late 2008, when Avery, then a member of the Dallas Stars, made remarks about ex-girlfriend Elisha Cuthbert and her new boyfriend, then Calgary Flames' defenseman Dion Phaneuf. We've all heard the comments, so they won't be repeated here.

Avery was not only suspended by the league and the Stars organization, he was forced to go to rehab, and was eventually removed from the Stars' roster. Is there really a difference here?

No, there isn't. Wisneweski made this gesture in front of thousands of people, on national television. His gesture could be taken offensively, just like Avery's were two years ago.

Oddly enough, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was in attendance at the Nassau Coliseum, and did not notice the gesture, although I am sure he has since witnessed it on the Internet, as the video has been watched by thousands of users on YouTube.

There cannot be a double standard. Avery was penalized and so should Wisneweski. The league cannot single out some players and not all players, especially with issues like this one.

Avery summed it up perfectly after the game.

"You guys saw what he was doing. But I’m sure nothing will happen to him. Because nothing ever happens. It’s pretty obvious what happened here. It's interesting that you’ll get a warning for something like that. Can you imagine I did that? They sent me to rehab the last time I did something like that… It’s crazy."

Do the right thing, Bettman, and for once don't treat Avery like a second-citizen.