Sean Avery screening Brodeur

New York Ranger forward Sean Avery’s controversial face-guarding of New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur in Sunday’s Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Series was dealt with by the League in a swift and decisive manner Monday.

Avery made headlines across the hockey world Sunday night when, during a 5-on-3 power play, he stood with his back to the play and waved his arms in front of Brodeur to distract the goalie. At another point, he also held his stick in front of Brodeur’s mask and waved the stick back and forth in another attempt at distraction.

Later in the power play, Avery scored a goal with a one-time shot – after he had abandoned his bizarre tactics. New Jersey went on to win the game in OT, 4-3, and now trails the series 2-1 with Game 4 Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

"I've been watching games for 33 years and I have never seen anything like that in my life," Brodeur told the New York Daily News. "If it's within the rules, it's within the rules. The official came over and said it probably wasn't something that should be done."

Monday, the League made sure it would not happen again as Senior Executive Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell issued a statement about the League’s position.

It is considered an interpretation of Rule 75, concerning goaltender interference.

"An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty (Rule 75) will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender's face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play."

(nhl.com)