Rangers’ Avery remains hospitalized with injury

NEW YORK (AP) — Rangers forward Sean Avery remained in an intensive care unit Thursday, two days after his spleen was lacerated during a playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“He won’t be removed from there until it stops bleeding, and it hasn’t,” team spokesman John Rosasco said Thursday after the Rangers held their morning skate before Game 4.

Avery spent Wednesday in the hospital after his injury ended his season. He is expected to be hospitalized at least a few days. Avery did not need surgery, and Rosasco said he is expected to make a full recovery.

“He was never in a life-threatening situation,” Rosasco said.

Some teammates saw Avery on Wednesday, and coach Tom Renney hoped to visit on his way to Madison Square Garden. The Rangers trail the Penguins 3-0 in the best-of-seven, second-round series.

Avery’s mother, Marlene, told the Toronto Sun her son’s spleen had not ruptured, but he had internal bleeding. Hospital spokesman Michael Fagan said Avery was in stable condition.

The spleen, about the size of a fist, is on the left side of the body, behind the stomach. It helps the body fight infection and filter blood. A person can live without a spleen but loses some ability to combat infection.

Avery, set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, is known for pushing the envelope on the ice and off it. While with the Red Wings, Kings and Rangers, he has made an art form of riling opponents.

He was injured during Tuesday night’s 5-3 loss from a hit, possibly in the first period, but played despite worsening pain. He took seven shifts in the first period, five in the second, and seven in the third. He spent 4 minutes, 58 seconds on the ice in the final period.

Rosasco said Avery was evaluated at the arena, then rode in a car with team physician Dr. Andrew Feldman to St. Vincent’s Medical Center and walked in shortly after the game.

The Rangers, trying to extend their season, also learned Thursday that Blair Betts will be sidelined. The center was diagnosed with broken orbital bone around his left eye and is expected to have surgery this weekend.

Betts was injured while blocking a shot in the second period Tuesday night. Fellow center Chris Drury skated Thursday and will be a game-time decision. He played through a torso injury that made it difficult for him to raise his arms during the second half of Game 3.