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Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn. Evan Dietrich-Smith Buccaneers Jersey .ca! Last night I was focused on the Flyers come-from-behind win over the Red Wings on NBCSN but also kept ‘half an eye on the Montreal Canadiens frantic 4-3 shootout win over the New Jersey Devils via NHL Game Center Live on my computer screen. We have a number of questions involving two separate plays from the Canadiens-Devils game and both plays highlight the full concentration and split-second decisions required of a referee as he attempts to make the correct ruling. Obtaining the best sightline in advance is critical to correctly process information to make the right call. The first play in question was when Montreals Max Pacioretty was on a breakaway and had the shaft of his stick break as trailing defender Jon Merrill attempted a wild desperation stick swing at the attacker (Incident can be seen at 1:50 of attached highlights). I ran back in front of the television from my kitchen during an NBC intermission when I heard initial commentary that a stick slash had broken Paciorettys stick on a breakaway. I rounded the corner just in time to catch a glimpse of a replay showing the wild swing by Merrill coincide with the snap of Paciorettys stick shaft. No call resulted on the play and the initial commentary suggested a call was missed. I thought “oh no”, another missed stick slash on breakaway similar to one I viewed last week. Unaware of the time in the game this play had occurred I immediately sent out an S.O.S. via twitter; “Anybody see the broken-stick slash on a breakaway in NJ. Another non-penalty shot call. Guess they dont make sticks like they used to?” In the rush for social media assistance my misplaced question mark (?) logically appeared to some as though I was stating a call had been missed as opposed to seeking guidance. Once I was able to finally view the play it was obvious that Jon Merrills stick clearly missed making contact with both Max Pacioretty and his stick shaft. When Max pressured down on the shaft his stick simply broke. Both referee Rob Martell, who had set up in perfect position to judge the play on the ice, and Ray Ferraro on the TSN broadcast from between the benches made the right call. Both men had the perfect sightline. The other play in question involved a pretty obvious trip/slew-foot by P.K. Subban that took down Patrik Elias just prior to David Desharnais tipping in Brian Giontas shot for the tying goal with just 36.6 seconds remaining (Incident can be seen at 1:33 of attached highlights). What wasnt so obvious on the play was that Elias set an illegal pick in an attempt to lockup up Subban and prevent his forecheck pinch with the Montreal net empty. With 44 seconds remaining Peter Budaj bolted to the bench for an extra attacker. In anticipation of this the trailing referee crossed the ice from his position near the Montreal players bench to appropriately observe the legal five-foot substitution required to replace Budaj. That was all well and good, save the fact that both referees were now on the same side of the ice; opposite to where Elias and Subban contacted one another resulting in two separate infractions. Had the trailing referee been afforded the opportunity to observe this play from his normal position (near blue line on players bench side) I am confident an arm would have been raised for a delayed penalty call once Patrik Elias leaned into Subban and then placed his stick across the midsection of the Habs star defenceman. Interference would have been the delayed call. Play would then quickly have been stopped once Subban, having been blocked by the illegal pick, extended his right skate behind the left leg of Elias and tripped the Devil player to the ice with a sneaky but obvious slew-foot. Coincidental minor penalties would have been assessed and Giontas shot would not have eventually found the back of the net on the Desharnais redirection. Gaining the best sightline is crucial in being able to accurately process information on every play. Sometimes that just isnt possible. As a result of the shootout win Subban and the Montreal Canadiens have to be very pleased this was just one of those times. Josh McCown Buccaneers Jersey . Blatter said at a news conference on Friday "I have not even the right" to discuss claims published this week by the Daily Telegraph. Doug Martin Buccaneers Jersey . -- Matt Ryan needed one of the best games of his career to lead the Falcons and their depleted offence out of their three-game losing streak last week.PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. -- The Swift Current Broncos moved into a tie with Prince Albert for first place in the Western Hockey Leagues East Division with a 4-3 overtime win over the Raiders on Wednesday. Graham Black scored the winner for the Broncos, who won their fifth in a row. Coda Gordon and Jake DeBrusk scored in the first period for Swift Current (11-8-1), and Connor Sanvido made it 3-1 Broncos in the second. Dylan Busenius and Reid Gardiner scored for Prince Albert (11-7-1) in the second period, and Josh Morrissey got the equalizer in the third. Eetu Laurikainen made 24 saves for Swift Current, and Cole Cheveldave, who got an assist on Morrisseys goal, stopped 35 shots for the Raiders. --- PATS 5 HURRICANES 2 LETHBRIDGE, Alta. -- Morgan Klimchuks hat trick led Regina past the Hurricanes. Klimchuks hat trick, which included a short-handed goal and another on the power play, gave the Pats (10-9-0) a 4-0 lead. Jesse Zgraggen and Connor Gay also scored for the Pats. Reid Duke and Axel Blomqvist replied for WHL-worst Lethbridge (2-14-3). Regina goaltender Dawson MacAuley finished with 30 saves, while Hurricanes goalie Corbin Boes stopped 41 shots. --- CHIEFS 5 TIGERS 4 (OT) MEDICINE HAT, Alta. -- Mitch Holmbergs goal in overtime lifted Spokane past the Tigers. Holmberg scored 1:58 into OT for the Chiefs (13-6-0), while Mike Aviani had two in regulation and Adam Helewka and Riley Whittingham added singles. Markus Eisenschmid, Miles Koules, Cole Sanford and Trevor Cox had goals for Western Conference-leading Medicine Hat (11-3-3). Spokane goaltender Eric Williams and his Tigers counterpart Marek Langhamer each made 31 saves. --- AMERICANS 3 WINTERHAWKS 2 PORTLAND, Ore. -- Tri-City rallied from a 2-0 deficit to bbeat the WHL-leading Winterhawks. Buccaneers #11 Jersey. Brian Williams, Connor Rankin and Parker Bowles had a goal apiece for the Americans (11-8-2). Taylor Leier and Chase De Leo gave Portland (14-4-1) its lead. Evan Sarthou stopped 24 shots for Tri-City, while Brendan Burke made 27 saves for Portland. --- SILVERTIPS 3 BLAZERS 1 EVERETT, Wash. -- The Silvertips scored three unanswered goals en route to a win over Kamloops. Manraj Hayer, Joshua Winquist and Ivan Nikolishin each scored for Everett (12-3-2). Aspen Sterzer scored the lone goal for the Blazers (6-11-2) with just over a minute left in the third period. Everetts Daniel Cotton needed to make just 17 saves for the win, while Taran Kozun stopped 35 shots for Kamloops. --- ROCKETS 6 REBELS 2 KELOWNA, B.C. -- The Rockets came out firing with four consecutive goals in the first period against Red Deer. Riley Stadel, Madison Bowey, Damon Severson, Zach Franko, Carter Rigby and Rourke Chartier scored for Kelowna (11-2-2). Dominik Volek and Brooks Maxwell had the goals for the Rebels (7-10-1). Rockets goaltender Jordon Cooke stopped only 16 shots, while Patrik Bartosak and Taz Burman combined for 38 saves in net for Red Deer. --- OIL KINGS 5 ROYALS 0 VICTORIA -- Edgars Kulda scored a short-handed goal as Edmonton cruised past the Royals Kuldas first-period goal came with teammate Cole Benson in the penalty box for a too many men on the ice call. Henrik Samuelsson, Benson, Ben Carroll and Brett Pollock also scored for the Oil Kings (10-7-1), while Tristan Jarry stopped 21 shots for the shutout. Patrik Polivka was pulled from Victorias (10-8-1) net after giving up three goals on 18 shots. He was replaced by Coleman Vollrath, who stopped 22-of-24 shots. ' ' ' |
