NHL

Nemesis ref ‘boxes’ in Avery

Sean Avery couldn’t come close to getting a fair shake from NHL referees when Stephen Walkom ran the league’s officiating department the last four years.

So it was no surprise at all that Avery, who for the most part has been treated equitably while enjoying a truce with officials throughout the first half of this season, had a tough time last night with Walkom on the ice as the lone referee through the first 27:26 of the Rangers’ 3-2 overtime defeat to the Islanders.

With partner Dean Morton’s arrival delayed by weather-related travel issues, Walkom gave Avery his first unsportsmanlike conduct of the season for yapping, plus a bogus goaltender interference penalty that should have gone the other way against Dwayne Roloson within the opening 17:44.

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Avery was assessed the unsportsmanlike penalty following a fight with Bruno Gervais at 2:28 shortly after he had been plowed into the boards. He was called for goaltender interference for crashing into Dwayne Roloson when the Islanders’ netminder stepped outside the crease in order to impede the Ranger winger as he hunted the puck.

“Sean said something; I know what he said, but I’m not going to repeat it,” head coach John Tortorella said when asked what precipitated the unsportsmanlike conduct call. “It should have been interference [on Gervais].

“Stevie missed two interference calls in the first six minutes.”

Avery was not available in the post-game locker room. Though he has been on the ice for 10 of the last 18 even-strength goals scored by the Rangers, Avery has not scored in 15 games since Nov. 23.

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Christopher Higgins‘ scoreless streak reached eight games following earlier droughts of 14 and nine games. Higgins, who had three shots, has four goals on 98 shots for a shooting percentage of 4.08 that is the lowest in the NHL among forwards who have at least 75 shots on net.

Donald Brashear did not get a shift in the third (or overtime), finishing with 4:09 of ice in six shifts. Brian Boyle similarly remained stapled to the bench in the third, finishing with 3:01 in six shifts. Artem Anisimov, who began the night as second-line pivot between Higgins and Ryan Callahan, played 3:37 in the third while Enver Lisin got 2:17 in the final period. . . . Dan Girardi led the defense with 24:23 while partner Michael Del Zotto played 23:39.

Each club was 0-for-3 in 6:00 of power play time, but Blueshirts yielded a shorthanded goal for the third time in the last eight games. Rangers also were hit with their third too-man-men penalty in the last 11 contests.

Blueshirts were 33-23 on draws, with Brandon Dubinsky going 12-4. Dubinsky, who scored both Ranger goals, has recorded five points (3-2) in the last three games. Chris Drury, who had an assist, has five points (3-2) in the last four matches.

Rangers were limited to two goals or fewer for the 19th time in the last 26 games. They are 2-3-3 in the last eight games in which they have not been able to get to three.

Flyers next, at the Garden on Wednesday before Blueshirts complete 2009 with a New Year’s Eve match in Carolina. Rangers are 38-33-10 in the calendar year.