FIDDLERMANIA BEGINS

Predators phenomenon Vernon Fiddler scored his first goal of the season and also tallied his first assist in Tuesday's 2-0 win against Calgary. Play had to be temporarily stopped after Fiddler's goal due to ecstatic Nashville fans hurling thousands of miniature fiddles onto the ice.

"VERN! VERN! VERN!" chanted the exhilarated crowd. The game almost had to be cancelled when large groups of Fiddlermaniacs (as they have come to be known) began climbing over the glass in excitement, but Fiddler saved the day by skating over to the timekeeper's box and asking that they calm themselves.

Now in this third NHL season, Fiddler seems poised to ascend to the upper ranks of the NHL elite. The undrafted Edmonton native, long heralded as the heart and soul of the still-green Predators franchise, has been described for years by hockey experts as "A combination of Gretzky, Orr, Richard and Dryden put together. And yes, we are aware that Dryden was a goaltender. Fiddler is that good."

The Music City seems to think so as well. The Predators were preparing to rename the franchise the Nashville Fiddles during the off-season, with unanimous support throughout the entire city, but the ever-humble Fiddler declined the honour, saying he was "happy to be a Predator." So instead, the city built a new arena shaped exactly like Fiddler's face, and designed a hugely successful souvenir/merchandise chain, including the mini fiddles and the incredibly popular "Fiddlesticks," a cinnamon wafer treat.

"Is there a better possible match in the NHL - except maybe Miroslav Satan and New Jersey - than Vernon Fiddler and Nashville?" said beaming Predators head coach Barry Trotz. "I intend to use Fids on the power play, to kill penalties, to take faceoffs, in overtime, in the shootout, as a goaltender in the shootout, to open the gates, to negotiate contracts for the other players, to fly our plane for road trips, the list goes on."

Tuesday was Fiddler's seventh game this season, which means the 25-year-old sensation is on pace to annihilate his previous season high of 4 goals. Projected scoring for the year have Fiddler leading the league in goals (158), assists (293), plus/minus (+576) and PIM (4,305).

AVERY BESMIRCHED BY SECOND FINE

When Kings center Sean Avery discovered he was being fined $1,000 for diving during a game, he let the Los Angeles Times know that he wasn't pleased with the new league rules.

"How can a guy sitting in an office in New York determine if you dived or not by watching a tape?" said Avery. "They don't know if you had a bad ankle or torn bursa sac or something."

The league did not appreciate his feedback, and fined him another $1,000 Tuesday.

Avery insists that these fines are just the latest in a conspiracy to punish him, and that there was "no question that [the fines] are a way (for the league) to do something to me. It has nothing to do with diving."

So far this year Avery has made derogatory comments about French NHL players, and been accused of racism by Edmonton's Georges Laraque.

Colin Campbell, the NHL's director of hockey operations, said that Avery's comments were uncalled for and that Avery had "besmirched the reputation of all NHL players, coaches, general managers and owners who, collectively, have been successful in providing a more entertaining game for our fans."

Upon hearing Campbell's remarks, Avery announced an immediate press conference, which was held in Avery's driveway.

"That figures that Colin Campbell would say that," said the seething Avery. "Comments like that, or not recognizing a huge milestone like celebrating my 500th penalty minute on October 13th, it just shows a lack of class they have."

"And what the hell does besmirched mean?" said a baffled Avery. "Is that some stupid french word?"