Clanregeln » gonna be there," Rusin said. Rennie is sat

Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca! Hey Kerry, love the column. My question concerns the penalty shot by Michael Frolik in Game 6 in Detroit. With the refs letting so many calls go in the playoffs, was this really a penalty shot situation? Sure, Frolik had a step on Carlo Colaiacovo and yes he tapped him on the glove with his stick, but was this truly a clear-cut breakaway and an infraction which caused him to lose control of the puck? A slashing penalty? Sure, but a penalty shot seemed a little excessive to me. What are your thoughts? Thanks,Bruce Kahanyshyn Bruce: I appreciate the confusion you feel on how a penalty shot could be awarded to Michael Frolik given certain inconsistencies of refs calls that have occurred in the playoffs. The fact of the matter is that on this play the Referee absolutely made the correct call when he pointed to center ice and awarded the penalty shot. Ill explain why but also expose a glaring inconsistency that resulted on a similar call in Game 4 of this same series between the Hawks and Red Wings when just a minor penalty was assessed. Rule 24.8 and 57.3 reference conditions under which a penalty shot is to be assessed. The intention of this rule is to restore a reasonable scoring opportunity which has been lost. When a player, in the neutral zone or attacking zone, in control of the puck (or who could have obtained possession and control of the puck) and having no other player to pass than the goalkeeper, is tripped or otherwise fouled from behind, thus preventing a reasonable scoring opportunity, a penalty shot shall be awarded to the non-offending team. Bruce, it is very important that you understand the four specific conditions that must be met in order for the Referee to award a penalty shot for a player being fouled from behind. They are: i) The infraction must have taken place in the neutral zone or attacking zone (i.e. over the puck carriers own blue line); ii) The infraction must have been committed from behind; iii) The player in possession and control (or, in the judgment of the Referee, clearly would have obtained possession and control of the puck) must have been denied a reasonable chance to score (the fact that he got a shot off does not automatically eliminate this play from the penalty shot consideration criteria. If the foul was from behind and he was denied a "more" reasonable scoring opportunity due to the foul, then the penalty shot should be awarded); iv) The player in possession and control (or, in the judgment of the Referee, clearly would have obtained possession and control of the puck) must have had no opposing player between himself and the goalkeeper. All of these conditions applied when Carlo Colaiacovo slashed at the hands of Michael Frolik. While the slash might not have appeared to be powerful or forceful, Colaiacovo none the less drew his two hands together and the resulting slash from behind caused a loss of puck possession and therefore a loss of a more than reasonable scoring opportunity. The Referee made the correct assessment on this play. Now I will attempt to address your legitimate confusion, Bruce. In Game 4 with 4:45 remaining in regulation time and Detroit leading by a score of 1-0, Brandon Saad was in all alone on Jimmy Howard. Saad attempted a move with the puck from close in when Jakub Kindl reached from well behind with his stick and fork-hooked the hands of the Chicago attacker. The foul from behind caused Saad to lose possession of the puck and a reasonable scoring opportunity was denied. While this play was another textbook example of a penalty shot, the Referee instead chose to assess a minor penalty to Kindl for hooking. The call prompted my good friend Kelly Hrudey to comment, "Dont look to center — thats not going to be a penalty shot at that point" (in the game). While Kellys analysis was predictably accurate (at least in this case) the Referees must eliminate any reluctance to assess a penalty shot when the four conditions have been met, regardless of the score or the time in the game. When a reasonable scoring opportunity has been denied it must be restored as the rule suggests. It is not acceptable for a Referee to take the easy way out by calling a minor penalty when an obvious foul from behind has been committed against a player on a breakaway. Its not a tough call to make; its the right call! On February 11, 1982 I called two penalty shots against the Detroit Red Wings in that very same Joe Louis Arena. The Vancouver Canucks, coached by Harry Neale were down 4-2 to Wayne Maxners Wings midway through the third period. Detroit defenceman Jim Schoenfeld grabbed the puck with his hand in the crease. Thomas Gradin scored to make it 4-3 on the penalty shot. With just over 30 seconds to play in regulation and the Canucks net empty, Stan Smyl picked up a loose puck at the Vancouver blue line and raced in on a breakaway. Detroit defenceman Reed Larson chased Stanley Steamer from behind and chopped the Canuck down just as he was about to release a shot on Gilles Gilbert. With 30 seconds on the clock and the Wings up by one goal I once again point to center ice and signaled a penalty shot. Smyl was injured as a result of the chop so Neale selected Ivan Hlinka to take the shot. Neale told me later his instructions to Hlinka were very clear: "If you dont score on this penalty shot, just keep skating right out the end of the rink, all the way back to Czechoslovakia!" Needless to say Hlinka scored, the game ended in a tie (no overtime back then) and the beer cups rained down on me! (Excerpted from The Final Call) While calling a minor penalty would have been the "easier" path for me to take it would not have been the right one! Kwon Alexander Super Bowl Jersey . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Adrian Colbert Super Bowl Jersey . Andreas Johnson had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden (2-0-0). Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen replied for Finland (1-1-0) Lindell opened the scoring for Finland just 41 seconds into the game, but the hosts quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later on Wennbergs first of the game. http://www.49ersofficialfanshop.com/deforest-buckner-jersey-sales.html . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. Deion Sanders Super Bowl Jersey . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Deebo Samuel Super Bowl Jersey . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.VANCOUVER -- Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Martin Rennie is wary of a potential hangover hurting his squad ahead of his teams clash with the visiting Chicago Fire on Sunday. The Whitecaps (8-5-5) secured their first Cascadia Cup win last week thanks to an emotion charged 2-0 win over the Seattle Sounders in front of 22,500 fans at BC place. The result meant just as much to the players as it did to the fans, with some Caps players savouring the moment by dancing in front of the Southsiders supporters section afterwards. But with more than a week of rest ahead of a date with the Fire (6-8-3), Rennie has used the time to keep his players grounded as the Caps look to extend their unbeaten streak to a club-record six games. "That is a big concern, making sure that our focus is right," Rennie said when asked about the lingering effects of a historic win. "Obviously the atmosphere was fantastic last week and it was really lively, so the players have to make sure they come with a real intensity (Sunday) because it might take a little bit longer for the game to get going. "So we have to make sure that we are on top of it and very focused and thats something weve got to make sure were ready for." A fast start against the Fire -- who saw their own six-game undefeated streak end last weekend in a 2-1 home loss to Sporting Kansas City -- could be key as Chicago have given up five goals in the opening 15 minutes of games this season. Whitecaps striker Kenny Miller scored after just four minutes against Seattle, while the Fire trailed Sporting 2-0 after just 10 minutes. The Eastern Conference outfit have also conceded the first goal a staggering 14 times -- the most in MLS -- and have compiled a 4-8-2 record from those encounters. Rennie said there were some similarities between the Sounders and Chicago and urged his team to push forward from the kick-off. "I think they are similar in their set-up to Seattle so we have to play the same and really get on top of them from the start and if we can get an early goal that would be fantastic for us," he said. Besides the shaky Chicago defence, Vancouver will be looking to put plenty of pressure on goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi, who is filling in for first-choice custodian Sean Johnson (international duty with USA at the Gold Cup). Tornaghi has started the past two games and conceded two goals in each of them. In late March, the Italian was in net during a 4-1 drubbing by Chivas USA. Said Rennie: "We want to get on top of their whole team and the fact that its not their starting goalkeeper may be a little advantage for us." The Whitecaps are sset to field the same starting lineup that took the pitch against Seattle, with Johnny Leveron and Brad Rusin playing in central defence once again.dddddddddddd Even though new Danish recruit David Ousted is now eligible to play, goalkeeper Brad Knighton will keep his place in net after his brilliant shutout against Seattle was rewarded with MLS Player of the Week honours. "The lineup picks itself pretty much when you win," Rennie said. Rusin, 26, has started the past two games after overcoming a calf injury and he is enjoying his role alongside Honduran Leveron, despite the usual language issues. "For the most part its been good," the American said. "Weve played against two quality teams in Sporting Kansas City away and Seattle here and to be fair we got two pretty good results. "Ultimately its just about being confident and going out there and doing what we do, doing what I do and of course Johnny just doing what he does -- controlling the ball and playing long -- things like that so I think we make a good pair." Playing in front of the in-form Knighton -- who has kept clean sheets in two of the past three games -- has also helped. "It definitely gives us confidence in front of him and just knowing hes gonna be there," Rusin said. Rennie is satisfied with the output of the Rusin-Leveron tandem but the imminent return of veteran Andy OBrien will create some competition, which doesnt faze the Indiana native. "You always want competition for positions," Rusin said. "It makes you a better player, youve got to be honest with yourself and you cant take days off even at training so I think its good for all of us." The spotlight will be on Rusin and Leveron this weekend with top marksman Mike Magee coming to town. Since returning to his hometown club from LA Galaxy during the season, Magee has netted five goals in six games but Rusin wont be putting too much emphasis on the match-up. "It doesnt really matter who I play against," he said. "I just think thats how all of us are. If we come out here and play our game and worry about ourselves, I think well get the job done." Notes: Fire midfielder Daniel Paladini will miss the game through suspension. He has two goals and three assists this season. . . Jamaican international Shaun Francis is set to make his debut for Chicago this weekend. The left-back will replace the suspended Gonzalo Segares. . . Chicago captain Logan Pause (back) could return after sitting out the past two games while fellow midfielder Patrick Nyarko (hamstring) is confident he will be right for Sunday. ' ' '