HARTFORD, Conn. -- Controversial forward Sean Avery appeared in his first competitive hockey game in two months with the American Hockey League's Hartford Wolfpack on Saturday night.
Avery was involved in two minor scrapes in Hartford's 4-1 loss to the Manitoba Moose in front of 5,899.
"I felt good," Avery said. "I was a little nervous. It's been a long time since I've played."
Avery was in the middle of two scraps, one early in the first period, and the next with 2
6 to play in the second. He was not assessed a penalty in either of the small shoving matches.
"A couple of guys said something. Nothing I could probably repeat," Avery said. "That's the type of things that help me play better."
Avery admitted to firing a few barbs, but claimed he held back.
"I had a few comments, but nothing that was too drastic," Avery said. "Or something the old Sean would say."
During the brief, but cordial postgame press conference, Avery skated by a few questions about his past comments, but did make one final quip before leaving.
When asked "what hurt the most" about his ordeal, Avery said, "When a girlfriend dumps me?"
He smiled and added: "No, I feel good."