NHL

NHL won’t punish Flyers player for alleged slur of Rangers’ Avery

After a couple of phone calls yesterday, the NHL decided it didn’t have enough evidence to take any disciplinary action against Flyers winger Wayne Simmonds.

Simmonds allegedly called Rangers left wing Sean Avery a homophobic slur during their game on Monday night. But Colin Campbell, the NHL’s vice president of Hockey Operations, talked to Simmonds, who denied the claim, as well as the on-ice officials who were not able to corroborate Avery’s account of the incident.

“Since there are conflicting accounts of what transpired on the ice, we have been unable to substantiate with the necessary degree of certainty what was said and by whom,” Campbell said in a statement. “To the extent we become aware of additional information conclusively establishing that an inappropriate slur was invoked, we are reserving the option to revisit the matter.”

Simmonds said the incident started when Avery sucker-punched him early in the first period of the Flyers’ 5-3 preseason win in Philadelphia. Then the two continued to verbally go at it, culminating in Simmonds losing his cool during a stoppage in play.

Simmonds told reporters in Philadelphia yesterday that, among other comments, he was pushed over the edge when Avery said, “I really don’t want to have to kill f—ing [Claude] Giroux,” referring to one of the Flyers’ best players.

Avery denied after the game that he ever crossed the line with anything he said to Simmonds, and also was certain about the slur that Simmonds called him.

“It’s been said [to me] for years, but it’s different now,” Avery said about the slur after the game. “It’s really disappointing. Who would [say] that?”

Avery has been an outspoken advocate for gay rights and was a public spokesperson during New York State’s adoption of its Marriage Equality Act in June. Even before this incident, he was wary about the homophobic culture in the NHL.

“If I was gay or bisexual, it would probably be easier for me to come out than anybody else, because how much more could there be on me than there is already?” Avery told The Post’s Larry Brooks in June.

“I’m sure there are a number of players around the league who think I am gay or bi, and maybe more now since I got involved in [the publicity for the Marriage Equality Act],” Avery added. “Even though I’m not, I have no problem with that at all.”

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation chimed in, as well, saying it contacted both the NHL and the Flyers about possible discipline against Simmonds.

“Hate speech and anti-gay slurs have no place on the ice rink,” GLAAD president Mike Thompson said in a statement. “He should not only apologize for this anti-gay outburst, but the Philadelphia Flyers and the NHL have a responsibility to take action and educate their fans about why this word is unacceptable.”

Simmonds was the target of a racially charged incident last week in London, Ontario, when a fan threw a banana at him during a shootout. The talented 23-year-old forward is one of just a few black players in the NHL.

“I’d rather see myself getting press for my play,” he said. “Instead it’s other things.”

bcyrgalis@nypost.com