Once upon a time, Stars pest Sean Avery dated actress Elisha Cuthbert. Now she dates Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf, a fact Avery noted before Dallas played at Calgary.

“I am really happy to be back in Calgary, I love Canada,” Avery told the assembled media Tuesday. “I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds. I don’t know what that’s about. Enjoy the game tonight.”

Hockey Guy was eager to see what response Phaneuf and the Mike Keenan-coached Flames would have. But then came word that the NHL suspended Avery for making those comments.

Gary Bettman’s people spoiled all the fun. Avery won’t play in the game and he will remain suspended pending a hearing with the league – which apparently doesn’t want tawdry WWE-caliber story lines overshadowing the competition.

Avery’s teammates seemed eager for fireworks tonight.

“Well, hopefully he doesn’t back down, you know,” Stars goaltender Marty Turco said before news of the suspension broke. “Better show up like a man. But we expect that out of him like we have all year . . . The show continues.”

Yes, and the show is aggravating even his teammates.

“It’s none of my business what he says and I’d rather not talk about Sean,” Stars center Brad Richards told reporters. “He’s got his own thing going on.”

Here is a nice Avery retrospective:

MACTAVISH IN TROUBLE?

Had the Oilers not rallied to beat the Blues, coach Craig MacTavish might have been measured for the short haircut. Heads may soon roll in Edmonton if the Oilers don’t get going.

That is the word from the Great White North, where MacTavish is in his eighth year on the Oilers bench.

Of all the former Blues to get into coaching, he has been one of the most successful. But the Oilers have exasperated team president Kevin Lowe and big changes could be in the offing.

HOW TO TAKE A FIRING

Ron Wilson took his Maple Leafs to San Jose to play his old team. Naturally, media types asked him to reminisce about getting canned by the Sharks.

“They fired me, and I was on a red-eye and a golf course the next morning,” Wilson said. “That’s exactly what I did. On my boat in the evening. The first thing I did was bust out the golf clubs and move on. It’s as simple as that.”

SINKING INTO THE FINANCIAL ABYSS

If you like Debbie Downer stories about the state of the NHL, then you will like this piece.

AROUND THE RINKS: In four games in Toronto, old friend Lee Stempniak has a goal, two assists, nine shots on goal and an even plus-minus rating . . . Old friend Curtis Sanford, filling in for injured Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo, went down himself with back spasms . . . The Capitals know what the Blues feel like, having suffered more than their share of early-season injuries. For the fourth game in a row, the Caps had several regulars out – including hot-starting forward Alexander Semin and top offensive defenseman Mike Green . . . With Tomas Holmstrom injured in Motown, Daniel Cleary is getting some reps on the top Red Wing line . . . The Flyers hope to get Daniel Briere back from his groin strain, which would not be good news for Tampa Bay tonight . . . Wild forward Marian Gaborik must be getting his legs back, since we’re hearing more rumors about potential trade partners for Minnesota. Add the Islanders to that list . . . Senators forward Antoine Vermette has just two goals in his last 22 games. “You’re going to hit stretches like that in a season where things don’t go your way,” he told the Ottawa Sun. “Eventually you get one or two and it falls into place. It’s not easy. At the same time, you don’t want to fall into the mistake of being frustrated. It just generates negativity and you don’t need that at all.”

AND FINALLY

Thanks to the Peoria Journal Star, we have footage of Nikolay Lemtyugov working his shootout magic for the Rivermen: