Dein erstes Forum » hurt," Locker said. Fitzpatrick replaced Lockere

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. Hi Kerry, I was watching the Montreal-Buffalo game last night and there was a nasty hit by Canadiens winger Jiri Sekac on Sabres defenceman Nikita Zadorov. The broadcasters say Zadorov got caught right between the numbers and were expecting about five and a game. But the officials called two minutes for boarding. Was this the right call? Alex Jones, Toronto Alex: The right call was made based on the actions of Nikita Zadorov, who was the recipient of a boarding infraction committed by Jiri Sekac of Montreal. The call made by young referee T.J. Luxmore is clearly spelled out in rule 41.1 - Boarding: There is an enormous amount of judgment involved in the application of this rule by the Referees. The onus is on the player applying the check to ensure his opponent is not in a defenceless position and if so, he must avoid or minimize contact. However, in determining whether such contact could have been avoided, the circumstances of the check, including whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the check or whether the check was unavoidable can be considered. This balance must be considered by the Referees when applying this rule. It boggles my mind and defies traditional hockey logic when players turn and face the boards squarely; especially knowing that they are going to be hit. Nikita Zadorov was in the process of doing everything correct when he was first man on the puck. Zadorov attacked the puck from an angle (versus straight on) and took a good look over his shoulder some twenty feet from the end boards to observe Jiri Sekac fighting through minimal detainment offered by Zemgus Girgensons. As such, he had to expect an impending hit to be delivered by Sekac. At the goal line Zadorov rotated his body square to the boards and initiated a side-slide stopping motion as he focused on the puck that was rolling around from the corner toward the end boards. This setup placed Zadorov in perfect position to play the puck and then safely take body contact from Sekac; also with the knowledge that he had 2nd man puck support from Sabres teammate Girgensons. This relatively safe play immediately turned bad for Zadorov when he took a second peek at Sekac as the Montreal attacker approached the goal line with speed. Zadorovs momentary shift in focus resulted in an inability to play the puck in front of his body that was still positioned squarely to the end boards. Once the puck slid past his center line Zadorov placed himself in a vulnerable position by reaching back for the puck; thereby turning his body and face square to the boards just prior to receiving body contact by Sekac. Referee T.J. Luxmore was in absolutely perfect position in the corner to observe Zadorovs turn toward the boards immediately prior to the check. Luxmore then correctly applied a shared onus of responsibility between Zadorov and Sekac to only assess a minor penalty on the play. A Lesson Shared From Old School Wisdom On Tuesday, the Edmonton Oilers were in town to play the Philadelphia Flyers. The night before the game my wife and I took our good friend, Oilers assistant coach Craig Ramsay out for dinner. Andrew Ference had been suspended for three games just that morning; preceded by suspensions imposed by the Player Safety Committee to Anton Vochenkov (four games) and Alex Burrows (three games). I asked Rammer his take on players that not only deliver dangerous hits but those that put themselves in vulnerable positions to be hit? Based on Nikita Zadorovs turn toward the boards, I want to focus our attention on Craigs response to the later part of my query as to why players put themselves in vulnerable positions and dont protect themselves the way players of his era did. He contends that many of todays players just dont expect to be hit and as such are quite often oblivious to their surroundings. This lack of apparent environmental awareness that Ramsay contends, was definitely present when Alex Emelin was caught off guard with a very late, angled head pick by Burrows well after the Montreal defenceman had delivered a pass up ice. It could be easily argued that both Zack Kassian and Michael Ferland demonstrated a lack of awareness and need for self-protection when they were recipients of an illegal check to the head; an awareness that players from other eras understood the need for at an early age and stage in their hockey careers. At a recent Oilers practice, Rammer attempted to impart some old school wisdom on a young Oiler player; wisdom the coach had acquired in the area of self preservation during a lengthy and distinguished NHL playing career. With the baby Oiler standing squarely in front of him, Rammer raised his stick and thumped the player on his helmet. The player instinctively recoiled and backed away, prompting the coach to reinforce his intended lesson that the player really didnt like being struck with a stick! Next, Ramsay called over assistant coach Rocky Thompson who Rammer says in a very intelligent and thoughtful assistant that is a real pleasure to work with. Rocky played most of his career in the AHL. In 25 NHL games he registered no points but 117 penalty minutes! As Rocky got within striking distance, Rammer raised his stick and feigned a swat at Thompsons head. Rocky immediately pulled away and assumed a defensive posture covering his head. Rammer then turned back toward the young Oiler and said, See that, Rockys a tough guy and he pulled back at the thought of confronting my stick! The lesson ended with Rammer not promoting his player thump opponents over the head but instead to be ever aware of the potential to be checked; to be dialed in to his environment at all times; and when necessary to protect himself through reasonable defensive posture and tactics. Hopefully the dramatic lesson attempt from Rammer just might prevent the young Oiler player from being caught off-guard and suffering an injury. The dinner and company was great but we missed seeing Rammers better half, wife Susan who remained in Edmonton. I willingly picked up the tab. Cheap Old Skool Sale . -- The way Ted Ligety carved into turns looked so easy. Old Skool Outlet . Cleveland released the troubled wide receiver on Wednesday, an expected ending after Bess was arrested in January for assaulting a law enforcement officer at an airport and other bizarre behaviour. http://www.cheapoldskool.com/ . Goins is the early favourite to win the starting job at second base. Pillar is an outsider to secure a role off the bench, which becomes an even more difficult spot to win if the number of back up jobs is reduced by one. That happens if the Blue Jays decide to start the season with an eight man bullpen. Old Skool Shoes From China . If there is one club built to handle an off-field controversy, its the Bill Belichick era Patriots. Even if New Englands offence stumbles a bit out of the gate, their defence can help them stay in games, especially in the AFC East with the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets in the first two weeks. Cheap Old Skool Authentic .C. -- North Carolina State coach Mark Gottfried said his team had a "golden" opportunity to help its NCAA tournament chances.NASHVILLE -- Its game balls all around for the Jacksonville Jaguars, winless no more. They can thank the Tennessee Titans for helping them finally get that first victory this season. Owner Shad Khan gave first-year coach Gus Bradley a game ball, and the coach made sure both his boss and general manager David Caldwell each got one, too, after the Jaguars held off the Titans 29-27 Sunday. All the Jaguars will be receiving a game ball to remember this very big win. "What Im excited about is that we improved in many areas," Bradley said. "On my call sheet I was writing down things that were really good that were happening during the game. They just kept piling up. I thought, this is how it feels." Maurice Jones-Drew and Jordan Todman each ran for a touchdown as the Jaguars left Tampa Bay at 0-8 as the only winless team left. The Buccaneers host Miami on Monday night. The Jaguars (1-8) scored the most points in a game this season. They never trailed and forced four turnovers they turned into 17 points. "Its definitely a great feeling," Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne. "Hopefully we can build on this. We cant become complacent and say we got our first win ... weve still got to improve on what weve done today and get better individually." The Titans scored twice in the final 4:15, the last on a 14-yard TD pass by Ryan Fitzpatrick to Delanie Walker with 40 seconds left. But Johnathan Cyprien recovered the onside kick to seal the victory. On a day the Titans (4-5) held a moment of silence for late owner Bud Adams, they got caught looking ahead to Thursday nights AFC South game with division leader Indianapolis. The Titans also lost Jake Locker to an injured right foot that had him on crutches and in a walking boot in the second half. The Titans were coming off an emotional win over former coach Jeff Fisher in St. Louis, and they looked flat from the start -- when even Adams family was late to the stadium and a news conference introducing the owners was scratched before kickoff. "We had a lot of things happen today that should never happen to us in any game," coach Mike Munchak said. The Jaguars took advantage despite being outgained 362-214 in total offence. Henne threw for 180 yards. Outscored 70-15 in the first quarter of the first eight games combined, the Jaaguars jumped to a 13-0 lead with Paul Posluszny stripping Chris Johnson of his first fumble this season on Tennessees first offensive play, and Dwayne Gratz intercepting a Locker pass.dddddddddddd The first turnover set up Jones-Drew for three straight carries capped by a 6-yard TD run. Josh Scobee kicked his second field goal, a 44-yarder, after the interception, giving the Jaguars their biggest lead in any game this season, 13-0 early in the second quarter. The Jaguars could have had a bigger lead if not for a shotgun snap bouncing off receiver Ace Sanders as he ran in motion. Not even Munchak seemed ready. The Titans coach wanted to challenge a 22-yard sideline catch by Cecil Shorts III, but threw the flag as the Jaguars snapped the ball. Munchak said later he was waiting for a better replay before deciding to challenge. Locker hurt his right foot in the second quarter at the end of an option keeper. He was so hobbled he couldnt connect with Johnson on a handoff on the next play, and the Jaguars recovered with 6:22 left. Locker was on crutches after the game and said he will have more tests Monday. "I was tired of having to come off the field because I was hurt," Locker said. Fitzpatrick replaced Locker, and he threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a 4-yard TD with 4:15 left trying to rally the Titans. But after the Titans forced the Jaguars to go three and out, Fitzpatrick was sacked by cornerback Will Blackmon, who stripped him of the ball and ran it back 21 yards for a 29-20 lead. The Jaguars also held the Titans to a pair of field goals by Rob Bironas in the second half. Bryan Anger pinned the Titans at their 1 with a 42-yard punt, and the Jaguars got a safety when rookie right guard Chance Warmack was called for holding SenDerrick Marks in the end zone. That safety with 7:44 left was the winning margin. "Its something we can build off of," Marks said. NOTES: The Jaguars now have won four of the past six in this series. ... Jaguars receiver Stephen Burton suffered a head injury in the fourth quarter. ... The Jaguars had been outscored by an average 22.3 points through the first eight games. ... Johnson passed Earl Campbell for second all-time behind only Eddie George for most yards from scrimmage in franchise history. ' ' '