NHL

Rangers won’t use Avery tonight against Ducks

Sean Avery returned from exile for his first practice back with the Rangers yesterday, but like the fans calling for his return, the gritty forward will be a spectator for tonight’s game against the Ducks at the Garden.

Citing the team’s stellar play in Monday’s 5-2 win over San Jose and Avery’s limited practice time, having cleared re-entry waivers on Tuesday, coach John Tortorella said he will use the same lineup from Monday against the Ducks, who have one point in their past three games.

As much as Avery wants to play, he couldn’t argue with the logic.

“I spoke to the coaches and I didn’t skate because of re-entry waivers for a couple days. You know what, really the guys played pretty good last game and had a big win, so I wouldn’t change the lineup,” Avery said. “We’re all here because we want to play for the Rangers. I love this team. I want to win. I want to play as hard as I possibly can and just try and contribute whenever I’m asked to. That’s what it comes down to.”

Avery, who was sent down to Connecticut (AHL) on Oct. 5 and was passed up by the 29 other NHL teams on re-entry waivers, and Tortorella both said there would be no need to clear up any issues about the situation with each other. The 31-year-old forward skated as an extra on the fourth line with Andre Deveaux, Artem Anisimov and Erik Christensen in practice, and though he appeared in only two games with the Whale because of a shoulder injury, Avery said the experience helped him regain confidence.

“I’ve had a lot of things happen to me over my career and I never rule anything out,” Avery said. “I’m not looking back and gauging my surprise level. I’m just here. Decisions that are out of your control are always out of your control. All you have to do is try and work hard and stay positive. I’ve learned that as time goes on usually if that’s the case, good things are going to happen.”

Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist said Avery’s presence made things seem “normal,” which is how Tortorella described the roster move, even if it isn’t to anyone outside the locker room. As for the fans who pleaded for Avery’s return, future cries for his playing time will remain unheeded.

“I know there’s people, as far as fans and media, they have their favorite players and they have players they want to grind on, but it doesn’t matter either way to me,” Tortorella said. “I’m not going to change my decision-making. It can’t happen that way. We cannot run a business that way. This is the same situation as any other player being brought up and we want to conduct it that way. I think that’s what’s fair to Sean. We’re going to run it just like we always do as far as guys coming to our team.”

Whenever, or if ever, Avery is inserted into the lineup, Lundqvist thinks he can still make a difference.

“Sean brings something not a lot of players have in the league with that edge to his game,” Lundqvist said. “Why is he still around? I think it is, No. 1 , because he’s a good hockey player and that’s why he’s here.”