Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn. [url=http://www.goldenknightssale.com/]Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys[/url] .ca! Hi Kerry, Its another day and here we are looking at another dubious hit t

Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn. Vegas Golden Knights Jerseys .ca! Hi Kerry, Its another day and here we are looking at another dubious hit to the head. In this case Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky elbowed Saku Koivu in the head about a second after he dished off the puck to a teammate, knocking him unconscious. This week we learned that there will be no supplementary discipline handed out to Dubinsky. This seems strange to me given that we are trying to get head shots out of the game, and John Scott has just been suspended indefinitely for a very similar type of play. Can you provide any insight on the thinking that goes on in deciding not to suspend Dubinsky in this case? It makes absolutely no sense to me. Thanks! Kevin Head Kevin: There was vast discrepancy in the reporting and analysis from one team broadcast feed to the other following Brandon Dubinskys hit on Saku Koivu. The Blue Jackets viewing audience would have believed that no penalty was warranted to Dubinsky on the play as their broadcasters analyzed multiple replays with comments such as, "Is the head targeted?; Thats a good hit; all Dubinsky did was brace before the hit because Koivu was going to him with (as) the aggressor; There was no elbow up - no targeting the head; That was a good hockey play; No targeting of the head whatsoever!" Analysis from the Anaheim broadcast team offered a totally different description and perception of the play. Duck fans probably anticipated a suspension would result to Brandon Dubinsky once they heard, "Oh boy that is a brutal elbow from Brandon Dubinsky, thats right on the jaw of Saku Koivu. You see the head of Saku Koivu snap back. Im sure the people in Toronto will be taking a look at that." While the vantage point the two broadcast teams shared in the press box is relatively close in proximity to one another, their respective analysis of this play could not be farther apart. Is this just a result of team loyalty and bias that we might expect in some measure or are we really this far apart on the subject of judging and eliminating contact to the head? Have we become too desensitized to violent hits or those where the head is the main point of contact hoping against all hope that the "physicality" of the game is not lost due to player suspensions? This illustration moves beyond the broadcast booth to all elements of the hockey world with varying opinions on determining illegal hits to the head; including those shared by the Player Safety Committee. The Hockey Operations Department and the Player Safety Committee review every play that has the potential for player suspension. I am the first to admit they have a very tough and thankless job. Kevin, part of the criteria used to determine an illegal check to the head is published in Rule 48 which the Player Safety Committee must adhere to when judging a potential suspension. In this case they would reference the following from rRule 48 to make their determination: i) Whether the player attempted to hit squarely through the opponents body and the head was not "picked (Brandon Dubinsky is square to Saku Koivu and therefore this is not a "head pick" by definition of the rule.) ii) Whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position by assuming a posture that made head contact on an otherwise full body check unavoidable. (Saku exposed himself somewhat for a square hit after making the pass but did attempt to bring his stick up to defend just prior to frontal impact from Dubinsky) The timing of the hit would be another element that the Player Safety Committee would examine. I have to say that although interference was ultimately assessed by the Refs on the ice the contact was not unusually late or even out of the ordinary for the finish of a check in terms of the standard we have seen for supplemental discipline. We may not like the end result, but that is the most probable answer to your question why Brandon Dubinsky was not suspended for his hit to Saku Koivu. The Player Safety Committee stayed within the language of the rule and the current guidelines that have been established. I understand the current parameters being utilized by the PSC but I am jumping into the broadcast booth down the hall to voice my differing opinion. For the sake of "player safety" the criteria must change in an effort to alter current and dangerous player tendencies that are causing the train to run off the rails. I for one want to see a player suspended every time he elevates his posture upward and makes the head of his opponent the main point of contact no matter if the attack angle is squarely through an opponents body or even if that player put himself in a vulnerable position. Brandon Dubinsky, as we see on most dangerous contact, elevated through the hit and continued to elevate with an upward extension of his elbow after contact was made to the head of Saku Koivu. Further evidence of this elevation is often seen when a players skate(s) leave the ice after contact which is often deemed a "good hockey play." My criteria would be "upward to the head" and "outward" for two games minimum! That of course, would depend on which side of the broadcast booth you are sitting in. Tomas Nosek Jersey . The NFLs Defensive Rookie of the Year will be named at the NFL Honours Award show on February 1. The 23-year-old 2013 second-rounder out of Oregon becomes the third Bills linebacker to win the honour after Jim Haslett (1979) and Shane Conlan (1987. Nate Schmidt Jersey . The defending champions sent their preliminary list to FIFA on Tuesday, with coach Vicente del Bosque to announce the final 23-man squad on May 25. Costa is set to lead the attack in his native Brazil, with Atletico Madrid teammate David Villa and Chelseas Fernando Torres also included, while David de Gea replaces injured goalkeeper Victor Valdes. http://www.goldenknightssale.com/authentic-deryk-engelland-golden-knights-jersey/ . The visitors missed a host of good chances to win the game, and were left to rue substitute Ivo Ilicevics strike against the crossbar in the 86th minute, when he only had the goalkeeper to beat. OKLAHOMA CITY -- It took a late stretch of what Kevin Durant called some of the best basketball hes ever seen the Oklahoma City Thunder play to beat the Washington Wizards on Sunday night. Durant had 33 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, hit the tying 3-pointer late in regulation and made the go-ahead foul shots in overtime to lift the Thunder past the Wizards 106-105. John Wall missed a driving layup attempt at the buzzer for Washington, which was seeking its third straight win. Bradley Beal scored a career-high 34 points for the Wizards. He shot 6-for-8 on 3s, and the team went 12-of-29 from behind the arc. Serge Ibaka had 25 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder, which overcame a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit for the first time since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City. "That was definitely a resilient win," coach Scott Brooks said. "It was that never-quit mentality that weve always believed in and thats what happened tonight. We just battled and battled and battled and gave ourselves a chance to win down the stretch." Washington led for most of the second half. The Wizards were up 83-71 after a dunk by Martell Webster with 8:03 left in the fourth quarter and 92-82 with 3:26 left. But they scored only two baskets in the final three minutes, allowing Oklahoma City back in the game. Oklahoma City, using a small lineup, closed regulation on a 14-4 run. Durant capped the burst with a straightaway 3-pointer with 13.6 seconds left. Beal missed a running 12-footer at the buzzer while being closely guarded by Ibaka. "That last three minutes was some of the best basketball Ive seen out of us since Ive been here," Durant said. "Im very proud of how we played at the end of the game. We have to do better, but thats a good stepping stone for us." The teams traded the lead in overtime. The Wizards led 105-102 after a driving layup by Marcin Gortat with 1:20 left. After Ibaka scored to cut Washingtons lead to one point, Durant blocked a shot by Wall and streaked toward the other end before being fouled. He made both free throws for a 106-105 lead with 40.7 seconds left. Webster missed a 3-point attempt and Reggie Jackson rebounded for the Thunder. Jackson eventually drove the lane and passed to Jeremy Lamb, who missed a 3-point attempt from the corner with 4 seconds left, giving the Wizards a final chance. Wall inbounded to Gortat, who tossed the ball back to him. Wall drove to the basket, but two Thunder defenders forced him to take an awkward shot. The Wizards hurt themselves by goiing 13 of 26 at the free throw line. Max Pacioretty Jersey. "We played extremely well," Washington coach Randy Wittman said. "I give Oklahoma City credit for coming back. They made shots. All we needed to do in the last couple minutes of regulation was make one shot and a couple of free throws and then the game would be over with. Making that run, our guys played their tails off tonight and came up short." 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"We started off the game relaxed, like we were supposed to win this game, as if they were just going to lie down," Durant said. "We cant come out like that." Trevor Ariza scored 15 points, Harrington and Gortat had 11 and Wall had 10 for the Wizards. Jackson came off the bench to score 12 for the Thunder. NOTES: Oklahoma City F Nick Collison missed the game with a bruised left hip. Brooks says Collison is day to day. Oklahoma Citys next game will be Wednesday at the Los Angeles Clippers. ... Wittman said he didnt know when F Chris Singleton might return from a fracture in his left foot that he sustained in mid-September. The team originally said he would be out six to eight weeks, but Wittman said Singleton hasnt practiced yet and that "it will be a little while after that" before hes able to play. ... Gabe Ikard, an all-Big 12 Conference centre for Oklahomas football team, watched from a courtside seat. ... Westbrook and Nene each were each called for their first technical fouls with 7:20 left in the third quarter after some jawing and shoving. Asked about the ejection, Westbrook answered, "Did we win?" He refused to answer other questions about the altercation with Nene. ' ' '