Avery Paying a Premium for Dive Time

The Kings’ Sean Avery, who was called for diving against the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday, could face another fine after the league automatically reviews the play.

Avery has already been warned and then fined $1,000 for dives this season. He is now a three-time offender, and would be out $2,000 this time.

The incident happened during the first period, when Avery appeared to lose his footing while skating past a Coyote player behind the Phoenix net in the first period. Diving is where a player attempts to draw a penalty by embellishing a fall.

Colin Campbell, the NHL’s director of hockey operations, said it would take longer than normal to review the play because the game was not televised. Avery didn’t comment after the game, but his disgust at the call was apparent when he slammed the door to the penalty box.

Avery received a diving penalty against the Colorado Avalanche on Oct. 19 and was warned by the league. He was fined for diving in a Nov. 3 game against Phoenix, although he was not called for the penalty during the game. League officials in Toronto reviewed the tape of the game and determined he had taken a dive.

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 each incident after that, players receive a one-game suspension.

Avery leads the NHL with 197 penalty minutes. In November, he was hit with a second $1,000 fine when he lashed out at NHL officials about the first diving fine.

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The Kings, who have lost 10 of their last 13 games, did not practice Friday and will take today off as well. They are sixth in the Western Conference, one point ahead of Colorado and two ahead of the Edmonton Oilers, and do not play again until facing the Minnesota Wild at St. Paul on Tuesday.

“The thing we have to do is step back and look at the situation we have put ourselves in,” King center Craig Conroy said. “We’re not chasing anybody for a playoff spot. I have been on teams that were chasing other teams, and it’s tough -- sitting there, knowing someone has to lose. We just need to win. We have four games left before the Olympic break and we need to treat them like a playoff series.”