Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enfor

Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn. Bill Russell Jersey .ca. Hi Kerry, In the final minute of the third period last night, it looked like the Kings may have had too many men on the ice during a line change - but there was no call. It was pretty close to overtime, so it might have made a huge difference in the outcome of the game. Did you see it? - Andrew R., Thornhill, ON Hi Andrew: Yes I did see the uncalled Kings too many men on the ice infraction with 21 seconds remaining in regulation time. Although there was no mention of the Kings violation of Rule 74 on either the NBC or CBC broadcasts you and I werent the only ones that caught it Andrew, as I received a tweet from Greg Williams (one of my followers on Twitter) questioning the play as well. For those that didnt observe it, let me share exactly what transpired. This too many men on the ice infraction committed by the Kings was as much of an "automatic call" as the one made a minute and three seconds earlier on Brian Boyle of the Rangers when he was penalized for a slash that broke the stick of Dwight King. There was great end-to-end action and scoring opportunities for both teams with under a minute to play in regulation time that were only thwarted through superb saves by Jonathan Quick on Carl Hagelin and Henrik Lunqvist on a Jeff Carter wraparound. After some sustained pressure by the Kings following the Carter scoring opportunity, the puck exited the Rangers zone and beyond the centre red line off the skate of Hagelin. As Alec Martinez went back to retrieve the puck on the penalty box side of the ice, Drew Doughty sauntered toward the Kings bench on the opposite side of the ice for a change following another energized shift by the potential Conn Smythe Trophy winner. With 22.7 seconds on the clock both Doughty and his replacement, Slava Voynov, were physically on the ice within five feet of the bench in what would determined as a legal line change as Martinez gained control of the puck midway between the red line and the Kings blue line. Two tenths of a second later (22.5) Martinez looked to his right and toward Voynov to throw a cross-ice pass. Voynov received the puck on his stick approximately 20 feet from his players bench at 20.9 seconds on the clock and with both of Doughtys skates clearly on the ice and preparing to climb over the boards. If we freeze frame it in this moment a clear violation of Rule 74.1 was committed requiring an immediate whistle and a bench minor assessed to the LA Kings for too many men on the ice. (Rule 74.1—If in the course of making a substitution, either the player entering the game or the player retiring from the ice surface plays the puck with his stick, skates or hands or who checks or makes any physical contact with an opposing player while either the player entering the game or the retiring player is actually on the ice, then the infraction of "too many men on the ice" will be called.) Both linesmen appeared to have had unobstructed views from their respective positions to follow the line change, up to and including the point when Voynov played the puck while Doughty was still physically on the ice. Even though this is primarily a linesmans call to make, one of the referees was positioned near the Kings bench inside the blue line and might very well have had a sightline on the change at the bench. This "automatic" call was not made and Voynov carried the puck through the neutral zone and led the attack. We cant be certain if a penalty call on this play would have changed the outcome of the game Andrew. What we can be certain of is that if a penalty had been called the teams would have played four-on-four until Brian Boyles penalty expired 24 seconds into overtime - at which point the Rangers would have enjoyed the benefit of a power-play for one minute and sixteen seconds. John Havlicek Jersey .Y. -- First, Patrick Kane gave his family and friends something to cheer about by scoring a highlight-reel goal in a rare trip home to Buffalo on Sunday night. Danny Ainge Jersey . The International Ice Hockey Federation says Pavlovs avoided a two-year sanction because he acted "without significant negligence in failing to verify the safety of the supplements he was taking. http://www.shopceltics.com/Cheap-Marcus-Smart-Celtics-Jersey/ . Jamies number grades given are out of five, with five being the best mark. Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers (5) – He had good saves on Giroux, Akeson, and Hartnell tonight. TORONTO -- Toronto FC left with the win. But Vancouver coach Carl Robinson walked out with a smile. A baby-faced Whitecaps squad escaped the first leg of their Amway Canadian Championship semifinal Wednesday down by just one goal after a 2-1 loss to a star-studded Toronto FC outfit. "Im delighted with them. Im really really proud of the boys in there today," said Robinson. According to the Whitecaps, the average age of their starting 11 was 21.7 years, with an average of 22.1 for the matchday 18. Toronto, meanwhile, rolled out its big guns in U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley and the strike force of Brazils Gilberto and Englands Jermain Defoe. Standing in their way was 17-year-old Canadian goalie Marco Carducci, whose US$36,504 annual salary is probably what Bradley ($6.5 million) and Defoe ($6.18 million) find in their couch. Up 1-0 after Defoes first-half strike, Bradley added what seemed like an insurance goal in the 89th minute, driving down the right and then, after a nifty 1-2 with Defoe, beating Carducci with a right-footed shot. The Whitecaps responded with a stoppage-time goal from substitute Kekuta Manneh, a valuable away goal that may pay dividends if the total goals series finished tied. The second leg is next Wednesday in Vancouver. "I think the tie is wide open," said Robinson. "I think both teams wanted to win this tie and end it tonight," said Toronto manager Ryan Nelsen. "But its not (done). Its up for grabs for both teams." Nelsen said he would make changes for the return leg, but declined to elaborate. Robinson said he would give his young players another opportunity "because I think they deserve it." The defending champion Montreal Impact meanwhile lost their opening semifinal leg 2-1 against FC Edmonton in Alberta later Wednesday. Nelsen, whose club had lost its last three MLS outings, called it an awkward game against a young opposition squad looking to prove itself to its coach. "Boy they were up for it," he said. "It was one of those games where ... you could have easily lost. Theyre a good team, theyre good young players." He lamented his team was unable to get the second goal earlier, allowing Vancouver to retain its confidence. And when Toronto did score again, it was quickly followed by a Whitecaps goal that "left a bit of a sour taste in the mouth." Toronto GM Tim Bezbatchenko certainly looked grim as he left his perch atop the stadium. Vancouver lived dangerously, carved open at times by a Toronto side that more often than not was unable to punish the visitors. But the Whitecaps, who grew into the game, had stretches when they strung passes together and came close to scoring before the late strike. Toronto should have led by several goals after 45 minutes on a windy night at BMO Field before an announced crowd of 22,591 despite a good number of empty seats. But it failed to take advantage of some early stage fright from the visitors, putting on