Razor's edge

A loose cannon he may be, but Ray Emery is still the most reliable goaltender that the Senators have. Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Ray Emery never has gone all Allen Iverson on the Ottawa Senators - "We're talking about practice" - but then actions speak louder than words.

On Monday, Emery arrived at 4:04 p.m. for a 4 p.m. post-All Star break practice on Long Island. The goalie says he thought practice was at the Nassau Coliseum, not a secondary rink, and was told not to bother by coach John Paddock. (If four minutes doesn't strike you as a big deal, remember that the sports world lives by a standard that if you are five minutes early, you're already late.)

Emery's tardiness was his second in about a month, and just another in a long list of wearisome incidents. He broke a stick at practice in a fit of pique in late December and later told reporters that he has trouble being motivated at practice, which must have been music to old-school Paddock's ears -- that's if you think music is a six-year old sawing on violin strings. Still, Emery's practice follies are marginally better than his missing a flight to New Jersey during the playoffs last spring. (He said he went home for a quick nap after practice, an explanation that stretched the bonds of credulity if you are at all familiar with the timeline of that day and the traffic on Highway 417.)

Although Bryan Murray, then the Senators' coach and now their GM, was livid, Emery started and won the clinching game of the series tk the following night. Ottawa's march to the Stanley Cup Final, with Emery doing a capable if not exceptional job, basically moved the New Jersey incident into the Razor-being-Razor file. Now, though, Emery's capital from 2007 has all been spent. Although none of his teammates have publicly excoriated him for his erratic behavior, several, including captain Daniel Alfredsson, have gently upbraided Emery's act to reporters.

The private reality, the genuine feeling in the dressing room, is probably much harsher. But Emery has two things in his favor: a new three-year, $9.5 million deal and Martin Gerber. With a contract that won't expire until July 2010, Emery is not going to be at the top of any team's shopping list. He simply is viewed as not being worth the trouble. And if no other team is interested, the Senators have to be because of Emery's goaltending partner.

The alternative to Emery is the unconvincing Gerber, who regained the starting job with an impressive first several weeks of the season but who has regressed to the point that he no longer resembles a goalie who can handle pressure. The Senators are going to need Emery -- better late than never.

How green is my league?

The NHL recently announced a "green" initiative, which surely is a socially responsible thing to do. Of course, if there were a real commitment to the environment, the league wouldn't have changed the schedule for next season and increased travel.

One eco/hockey-suggestion, annually made in this space: all playoff series become 2-3-2 to eliminate excess trips.

Another less serious eco-suggestion: Let the Boston Bruins mail in their results against the Montreal Canadiens. Boston is 0-6 vs. the Habs this season.