Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your em

Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn. Andrew Heaney Jersey .ca. Hi Mr. Fraser, Im a fan of the column as you put a good perspective on some of the crazy reffing that goes on. I would love to know how Torontos Stephane Robidas isnt suspended for elbowing Vancouvers Shawn Matthias in the head with a dirty blatant elbow this past Saturday. Now Vancouver has one of its hottest players out with a concussion. Its pretty infuriating when we see Alex Burrows get two games for a much less dangerous hit, then Robidas gets away with a dirty, blatant elbow to the head. Whats wrong with this league? Ted Goodsell Airdrie, Alberta Ted: You are one of four fans that dropped this question in the Cmon Ref mail bag just last night who are curious as to why no suspension was imposed to Stephane Robidas after he elbowed Shawn Matthias in a play that resulted in concussion-like symptoms to the Vancouver player. The Player Safety Committee has a series of criteria to determine a hit they deem to be worthy of a suspension. You can find various examples and explanations in tutorial videos contained on the NHL.com player safety website. The committee, headed by Stephane Quintal, attempt to rule in a fair and consistent manner based on the criteria they have been handed. This is certainly no easy task and every decision (or non-decision) they make is closely scrutinized by team personnel, the media and fans alike. Every play is different and must be judged on its own merit. In many situations it appears to me that too narrow a margin exists between determining an illegal play worthy of a penalty imposed by the referee in the game or elevated to a suspension after the fact with regard to player safety. Even though this was an elbow infraction, rule 48 is the modern day standard bearer for illegal contact to the head. The rule provides a list of criteria that not only defines an illegal check to the head but offers caveats or exemptions that carry forward and become part of the criteria used by the Player Safety Committee to determine suspensions. Critical to their consideration is if an opponents head was the main point of contact and especially whether the player attempted to hit squarely through the opponents body and the head was not picked as a result of poor timing, poor angle of approach, or unnecessary extension of the body upward or outward. This is certainly an abundance of verbiage to digest when breaking down hits that result in varying degrees of contact to the head of a player. It is my opinion that too many caveats are being considered for not suspending a player when significant contact to the head results from a high, illegal hit. As we look at a couple of different angles when Robidas initiated contact with Matthias we are presented with evidence that would most likely have been strongly considered by the P.S.C. to determine a suspension was not warranted to the Toronto player. The camera shot from the stands, looking through the back of Matthias, indicates that Robidas elevated arm/elbow appears to make initial contact just below the chin (neck area) of the Vancouver player. As Robidas initiates contact his upper body slides off the centre mass of his opponent and results in Matthias head becoming the main point of contact with the right-back shoulder and upper tricep of Robidas. The cross ice shot is somewhat more incriminating that the elbow did some residual damage but it can be argued that Robidas elbow rode up after making initial contact below the chin. In the eye and mind of those responsible for determining a suspension this becomes an illegal elbow worthy of a minor penalty and does not cross the line of the criteria they utilize for the purpose of suspension. Some (or even many of us) wont agree with the rationale or criteria currently being utilized to determine a suspension. Many would suggest it falls short in an effort to hold players accountable for high hits that result in various degrees of contact to the head of an opponent and can result in injury. The General Managers are presently meeting and can recommend changes to this process if they deem them to be warranted. Its their stick and puck and until such time as changes are made it will be business as usual. I wish Shawn Matthias a full and speedy recovery. Los Angeles Angels Jerseys .Y. -- The Buffalo Bills have fired receivers coach Ike Hilliard. Blake Parker Jersey .K. Subban and Matt Duchene will be the two skaters sitting out the teams opening game. http://www.angelsteamshop.com/Angels-Rod-Carew-Kids-Jersey/ . Quarterback Drew Willy appeared to injure his throwing hand on the third last play of practice Thursday.TAMPA, Fla. - Andy Dalton didnt offer any excuses. The Cincinnati quarterback felt lousy, and at times his teammates didnt play well, either.What mattered most, though, is the first-place Bengals won again.Anytime you get a win its big, Dalton said after a 14-13 victory Sunday over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Obviously you want to play better, you want to do a lot of things better. A win is a win regardless of how you get it. The goal is to win by one, so well take the win any way we can get it.Dalton shrugged off flu-like symptoms to score on a 5-yard run and throw 13 yards to A.J. Green for another touchdown. Along the way, Cincinnati (8-3-1) overcame three interceptions, 10 penalties and an ill-advised onside kick that helped Tampa Bay stay in the game to win on the road for the third consecutive week.Thats a franchise first that seemed improbable following a lopsided home loss to Cleveland a month ago.Im pleased that we basically overcame ourselves and won the football game, coach Marvin Lewis said.But as poorly as the Bengals played, Tampa Bay (2-10) committed the biggest blunder of the day — a penalty in the closing seconds for having too many men on the field.The infraction — the last of 13 penalties against the Bucs — overturned a 21-yard pass completion that would have moved them into position for a possible game-winning field goal.Thats how 2-10 football teams play. They find a way to lose it in the end, Tampa Bay coach Lovie Smith said. When you make dumb, stupid penalties like that throughout the game, it will bite you at the end, which it did.The Bengals extended their lead in AFC North to 1 1/2 games over each of their division rivals. Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Cleveland all lost on Sunday.It looked as if Cincinnati might fall, as well, when Josh McCowns throw to Louis Murphy appeared to give the Bucs a first down at the Bengals 20 with 12 seconds remaining.As Tampa Bay scrambled to line up and spike the ball, an animated Lewis came off the sideline and threw the red flag to challenge the previous play.Officials initially announced the Bengals couldnt challenge, because coaches arent allowed to request any in the final two minutes. The replay official, however, had alreaddy decided to look at the play, and found the Bucs indeed lined up with 12 players. Darin Erstad Jersey. he guys upstairs were saying it right from the start, before they snapped the ball. ... We were trying to match up the personnel, and there was one too many, Lewis said.McCown said the Bucs had an extra tackle on the field. The quarterback didnt notice, and neither did Smith.We were in a bit of a muddle-huddle there, and guys were on and off. ... Weve just got to handle it better, McCown said.Blame the head coach. Bad move on my part, (I) didnt see it, Smith said. We had 12 guys on the field. Cant happen.Some reasons why the Bengals extended their lead in the AFC North and the Bucs fell to 0-6 at home:TIMELY Defence: The Bengals limited the Bucs to 263 yards of total offence and were at their best after poor plays put the defence is bad positions. Tampa Bay settled for a field goal after Johnthan Banks intercepted Daltons first pass of the day and returned it 32 yards to the Cincinnati 9. And, the Bucs only managed a field goal after the onside kick was returned to the Bengals 31 and an unnecessary roughness penalty on the next play moved the ball to the 16.ROAD KINGS: Cincinnatis November road swing through New Orleans, Houston and Tampa Bay totalled 5,078 miles and has bolstered the teams confidence. Its the ninth time in team history, the Bengals have played three straight on the road. Its the first time theyve won all three.WHERES THE GROUND GAME?: Tampa Bay was held to 75 yards rushing, with Doug Martin gaining 58 on 18 carries. A month ago, the Bengals ranked 31st in run defence. Over the past three games, theyve allowed just 71 yards per game on the ground.MCCOWN FACTOR: McCown was 15 of 29 passing for 190 yards and one interception. While he was only sacked once, the Bengals got enough pressure on him to force numerous bad throws.RESILIENT DALTON: Dalton finished 19 of 27 for 176 yards. He completed four passes to Green for 57 yards and helped the Bengals take valuable time off the clock with a nice 30-yard completion to James Wright on third and 11, extending a drive late in the fourth quarter.___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '