Sean Avery has screwed the pooch almost everywhere he's been, and it's usually messy.

Last night, Avery's out-of-control ways worked to New York's detriment, as the Caps brushed him aside with unconcerned poise, aided by the cockiness of a leading superstar who made his presence known at the Rangers' morning skate.

Sean Avery wanted to come out and show who "Sean Avery" was, a flaming hot-head. Instead, the fashionista stumbled down the runway like his dress was on too tight.

It started in the second period when Avery allowed himself to be goaded into a roughing penalty by John Erskine. The Caps defenseman dealt with the type A by letting him play into his hands, and not the other way around.

Avery then exploded with four more penalties. Two minutes for high-sticking, two for goaltender interference, two for roughing again, and capping the game with a 10-minute misconduct, Avery headed to the showers early.

Avery's final transgression involved him getting into the face of Simeon Varlamov with a slobbering mess of mouth-piece, teeth, and least of all, words. The slick Russian goalie played it off as if ignoring a child, probably not understanding what the rabid Canadian was saying anyway.

The man with his own rule got in a parting cheap shot on Varlamov, which triggered the 10-minute misconduct, but it was too late. The 20-year old, groomed in the land of vodka and iron curtains, proved to be an Avery-proof goalie, blanking the boys in blue.

Avery should consider last night an open invitation for his continued idiocy. The refs will be watching him, as usual, and the Caps could care less -- their mission of rocking the red is much more important than the sloppy antics of a red-faced jerk.



Kyle Weidie also writes Truth About It and contributes to Bullets Forever, both Washington Wizards blogs. He believes in the great eight.