Rangers’ Avery still in ICU

‘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 trailed the Penguins 3-0 in the best-of-seven, second-round series entering last night’s game.

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 are 33-14-10 with Avery this season and 9-13-3 when he was out with injuries. He was acquired from Los Angeles in February 2007 and sparked a playoff run in which the Rangers went 17-6-6 in games he played.

‘It’s a tough loss to lose him, but we’ve got a lot of guys in here,’ forward Ryan Callahan said

Avery assisted on the Rangers’ second goal Tuesday.

‘He’s an important part of our team, obviously,’ forward Brandon Dubinsky said. ‘At the same time, we have a job to do. … We can’t sit here feeling sorry for ourselves and being sad and having the ‘poor me’ thought because one of our players is out.’

Avery frustrated New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur during the first round. In Game 3, Avery planted himself in the crease with his back to the action and face-guarded the goalie. The next day the NHL barred such activity with the ‘Avery Rule.’

Brodeur was so incensed by Avery’s crease-crashing and trash-talking that he refused to shake his hand after the Rangers’ clinching victory in Game 5. Avery tied for the team lead with three goals in the series.

Avery’s targets often find themselves mouthing off, or worse, getting so angered that they draw a penalty.

‘It’s emotional and intense,’ Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. ‘Guys are not the best of friends on the ice, but you never want to see someone’s health in jeopardy. I think we all wish him the best.’