League Fines Avery $1,000 for Diving

The Kings’ Sean Avery was fined $1,000 by the NHL for diving and will appeal the ruling through the NHL Players Assn. The league notified him of its decision by fax Thursday.

Avery said the incident occurred in a Nov. 3 game against Phoenix. He was not called for diving, in which a player is judged to have embellished a fall to draw a penalty, but was cited after league officials reviewed the game.

“I don’t have a comment on it right now,” Avery said. “If I lose the appeal, I’ll have plenty to say then. It’s an issue I will not let go.”

Avery received a warning from the league after being called for a diving penalty against Colorado on Oct. 19.

The NHL gives players a warning for their first offense, then fines them $1,000 for their second, $2,000 for their third and $3,000 for their fourth. For diving incidents after that, a player receives a one-game suspension.

In September, Avery got into trouble with the league for comments he made about French-Canadian players. The NHL reprimanded him and ordered him to apologize.

*

King center Derek Armstrong was scratched from Friday’s game because of what Coach Andy Murray said was a “tight groin.”

Armstrong sat out five games because of a strained groin and returned to the lineup against Detroit on Wednesday. Jeff Cowan started in Armstrong’s place against Chicago on Friday.