Sean Avery -- and His Mouth -- Are Back

Sean Avery was back on the ice Saturday night in Hartford, and he showed that his two months off didn't really temper his aggressive playing style or his attitude.

Avery, playing with the AHL's Wolf Pack after being sent down by the Dallas Stars earlier this month, got into a pair of scraps with the Manitoba Moose -- a team with a working affiliation with Dallas but who wanted no part of Avery. After the game, Avery said he indeed was running his mouth -- although he claims not quite to the degree as he was before.

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GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 14: Jarome Iginla #12 of the Calgary Flames moves out of the way of the puck against the Phoenix Coyotes on February 14, 2009 at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jarome Iginla

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GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 14: Ilya Bryzgalov #30 of the Phoenix Coyotes prepares to make a save against the Calgary Flames on February 14, 2009 at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ilya Bryzgalov

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Calgary Flames defenseman Cory Sarich, left, shoots a wrap-around shot as Phoenix Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, right, of Russia, makes the save in the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb 14, 2009, in Glendale, Ariz. The Flames won 7-5. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

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Phoenix Coyotes' Shane Doan (L) looks to score on Calgary Flames' Miikka Kiprusoff from Finland in the third period of their NHL hockey game in Glendale, Arizona, February 14, 2009. REUTERS/Rick Scuteri (UNITED STATES)

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"I had a few comments," Avery admitted. "But nothing that was too drastic or something the old Sean would say."

Avery's sideshow certainly helped at the box office, as the team drew 5,899 at XL Center for his Hartford debut, over 2,000 better than the average Wolf Pack crowd. And those who showed up weren't too disappointed with his performance, which was vintage Avery.

Not long into the first, Avery was involved in an altercation behind the Manitoba net, and then towards the end of the second period, got into a fracas with Manitoba's Alexandre Bolduc which involved a lengthy shouting match.

He ended up with four shots on goal and 20 minutes of ice time in Hartford's 4-1 loss, but couldn't resist leaving without making one last quip.