Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn. Cheap 2018 Jordan 13 .ca. Hey Kerry, Whats the standard for officiating on hits and shoves after the whistle? Andrei Markov laid a late hit on Ondrej Palat after the whistle in last nights Habs-Lightning game, while Radko Gudas was giving extra pushes and shoves after play was stopped as well! How much is too much? Carrie ---- Hi Kerry, I appreciate your candor in your columns. With the playoffs upon us I am going to put you on the spot. Does the league mandate that officials loosen the reins on the rules come playoffs? I have played, coached and been a fan of the game for many years and it would appear there is a different standard (I use Brad Marchand repeatedly punching one of the Sedins after a whistle with no call in the 2011 Stanley Cup final as Exhibit A). As a fan I hate the relaxed standard that is apparent in the playoffs. Andy,Toronto Hi Carrie and Andy: And so the games begin! We all know that game intensity is quickly ramped up in the playoffs. At ice level, a referee must be able to feel the energy that players exude from the opening puck drop and allow the game to unfold. Each game has a unique heartbeat and the officials need to constantly take the pulse into account and determine when it is appropriate to impose themselves. Im not talking about when to call a trip or other obvious infraction but more specifically how to regulate the temperature of a game. The refs need to tap into and differentiate between the positive energy (which they must allow to flourish) and any excessive negative energy (which they must take measures to control). Quite often there is a fine line between the two once we enter the high stakes of playoff competition. One incident can spike the game temp, such as the deliberate snow shower that Ryan Garbutt buried Ducks goalie Frederik Anderson with, or the late body check from Andrei Markov on Ondrej Palat. On the first play, the referee took immediate control by assessing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to Garbutt, thereby sending a clear message that any "cheap" liberties on the goalkeeper would not be tolerated. I asked Marty Biron, whom I sat beside in the TSN studio last night, if a snow shower throws a goalie off his game. Marty said it actually does the opposite and will motivate the goalie to remain focused and play harder. Adding insult to injury, Matt Beleskey scored the fourth Ducks goal with Garbutt in the box. That became a costly penalty once Dallas closed the gap and Anaheim hung on for the 4-3 win. There was less need for the refs to exert control on the late Markov check. It was a clean shoulder check (other than after the whistle), it was in open ice as opposed to into the boards (in which case I am quite sure a penalty would have resulted) and even though it resulted in a scrum, the benefit of the doubt could be offered that Markov was in the act of finishing a check and the whistle was a little late. If after this "freebee" extended by the refs there was another episode of a testosterone rush someone should pay the price of a penalty call. Andy, there is no specific direction or league mandate given to the officials to loosen the reins on the rules. They are instructed to utilize their "best judgment" to ensure that marginal penalties are avoided at all times. This suggestion can plant a seed in the mind of the officials that isnt always positive. As the game moves closer to the end the refs feel an internal pressure to make sure that if they do raise their arm it will be judged as a "solid" penalty call. They want desperately to keep the spotlight off themselves. That thought process, when taken to excess, can negatively alter the standard that had been set throughout the game. Candidly speaking, a referee might avoid calling a foul that occurs 100 plus feet from the net since it doesnt involve a direct scoring opportunity. At that point he gambles and hopes that continued game flow gets him out of a self-perceived controversy. You and I know this is not the right approach, nor is it in the best interest of the game. Those in charge of rating the officials performance have a hand in this process as well. We have seen situations where a ref has stepped up and made a gutsy (and correct) call that impacts a game only to find himself dropped from further playoff assignments due to the nuclear fallout. Brad Marchand rag dolling Daniel Sedin in the 2011 Cup Final is just one example we could cite with regard to ref avoidance issues. Players will take full advantage when they feel the referee has put his whistle away. On the flip side, I recall Jerome Iginla chasing me around the ice after I whistled Andrew Ference for blasting Martin St. Louis into the end boards with less than two minutes remaining in Game 7 of the 2004 Cup Final with the Lightning leading by a score of 2-1. It was an obvious penalty but the score, time and emotion altered Iginlas perception and acceptance of the call. Then came the first lockout season and the "New NHL" spawned an attitude that penalties would be called regardless of the score and time. The standard has eroded somewhat from that strong initiative and needs to be restored before we move much farther through this playoff season. As I mentioned in a previous column, the referees need to demonstrate sound judgment and courage to make the perceived "tough" call. When the refs do make them they must be supported by the Officiating Department managers. That is the seed that needs to grow. Cheap Air Jordan 13 Retro All Star . His actions are much louder on the Fenway Park mound. De La Rosa had another strong home start, going seven solid innings to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night. Cheap Air Jordan 13 Retro Orange . -- The Minnesota Vikings have signed Jerome Simpson, the former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver recently convicted on a felony drug charge. http://www.cheapretrojordan13.com/cheap-air-jordan-13-retro-rose/ . He reps the 4-1-6The insecurity of Canadian basketball fans is not what it once was with the home grown talent making its way to the big leagues, but it is still nice to see the local kids remembering where they come from once they make their way south.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Though not the gambling type, Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone cant avoid being reminded how often his team is the underdog.Informed the Bills are not favoured in their home game against the Kansas City Chiefs in a meeting of two 5-3 teams, Marrone smiled and said: And (the line) is moving. Its going up, right?Indeed it was. After opening the week 1-point favourites, the Chiefs were at 2 by Thursday.Marrones not surprised after the Bills werent favoured entering their 43-23 win against the then-1-6 New York Jets two weeks ago.Encouraging as the Bills record has been, they have a long history of second-half collapses during a 14-season playoff drought. Thats a history they need to overcome before anyone begins taking them seriously.Its going to be that way until we prove that we can go out and win on a consistent basis. And we havent, Marrone said. So I dont get upset with anyone. Do you need it as motivation? I think these guys go out there every day and understand what we have to prove.The game Sunday becomes the latest prove-it or lose-it test for a Bills team that comes out of its bye week. The Bills have won two straight, and displayed resilience in winning three games on their final offensive possession.Theyll face the Chiefs, who are on a roll of their own. Kansas City has won three straight and five of six to climb into a jumbled AFC playoff picture featuring 11 teams with winning records.I dont get caught up in all that, Chiefs coach Andy Reid, referring to the standings. I dont think it does any good. It doesnt help you win the game or that. Were both sitting 5-3, and thats what we are.The similarities dont end there. Both teams have aggressive defences the league leaders in sacks, and are stingy against the run. Their offences are run by veteran quarterbacks and rely on balanced approaches.Heres a number of things to look out for as the non-division rivals meet for a seventh straight season:BY THE SACKFUL: The Bills are second in the NFL with 28 sacks, and the Chiefs one behind with 27. That was enough for Marrone and Reid to exchange compliments.You could argue that this is one of the better defences, if not the best, in the National Football League at this point this season, Reeid said of the Bills. Cheap Air Jordan 13 Retro Brown. Marrone made note of Chiefs linebackers Justin Houston, who leads the NFL with 12 sacks, and Tamba Hali, who has four, before turning his attention to defensive tackle Dontari Poe.I think the inside guy is having an unbelievable year, Marrone said of Poe, who has three sacks. Hes a guy thats flying under the radar in this league.RUN STOPPERS: The Chiefs have yet to allow a touchdown rushing this season, and face an injury-depleted Bills backfield missing C.J. Spiller (broken collarbone) and Fred Jackson (groin). Backups Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown were limited to a combined 59 yards on 29 carries against the Jets.Chiefs starter Jamaal Charles, meanwhile, faces a defence that didnt allow a rushing TD until giving up three against the Jets. Buffalo has held six opponents under 90 yards rushing this season.AIR BALLS: Chiefs starter Alex Smith has thrown 11 touchdown passes, but none yet to a wide receiver. Not to worry, said receiver Dwayne Bowe, who has 31 catches for 398 yards.As long as Im contributing, then Im feeling good, Bowe said. Its going to come my way.AIRING IT OUT: Kyle Orton has provided a spark to the Bills passing attack in four games since replacing EJ Manuel as starter. With a 3-1 record, the 10-year journeyman is averaging 282 yards passing per outing, and has nine touchdowns versus three interceptions. In that time, the Bills passing numbers have jumped from being ranked 31st to 20th.Rookie receiver Sammy Watkins has been the big beneficiary. In four games with Manuel, Watkins had 17 catches for 197 yards and two TDs. In four with Orton, he has 21 catches for 393 yards and three TDs.SECOND-HALF COLLAPSES: This marks the fourth time since the Bills playoff drought began theyve had a winning record through eight games. None of those translated into winning seasons, including 2011, when Buffalo turned a 5-3 start into a 6-10 finish. Since 2005, the Bills have a combined 29-43 record in the first half of a season, and 25-47 in the second.Yeah, were in a good position record-wise, but we havent done anything yet, Bills centre Eric Wood said. You dont get any prizes for starting 5-3.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '