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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. Kerry, I just witnessed the hit by John Moore on Dale Weise in Game 5 - how was that different than the hit that Brandon Prust landed on Derek Stepan? Stepan sustained a broken jaw ... Weise sustained a headache! Should the same rule book call have been made on both hits? Rick Rick: The primary difference between these two illegal hits is that the head of Dale Weise was the "main point of contact" delivered from the shoulder of John Moore in Tuesday nights game and as such, fell under the parameters and language of rule 48 - illegal check to the head. Brandon Prust, on the other hand, initiated shoulder contact to the upper chest/shoulder of Derek Stepan and as the Habs player drove up and through the hit, "significant contact" resulted to the head of Stepan. No penalty was assessed to Prust on this play (missed by all four officials) but since this illegal check was very late, blindside in nature and excessive in the degree of violence asserted, a major and game misconduct should have resulted for interference (rule 56.4/.5). While it might sound like "wordsmithing" (main point of contact versus significant contact), these are important distinctions for the referee to judge when assessing the appropriate penalty. Regardless of the terminology or rule application, both Prust and Moore deserved to be expelled from the game pending any subsequent decision by the Player Safety Committee. While both players were able to finish the game, it was learned the following day that Derek Stepan required surgery to repair a fractured jaw. Brandon Prust was suspended by the Player Safety Committee for a whapping two games! The full extent of head trauma symptoms is not always immediate so it might be premature to determine if Dale Weise is suffering anything beyond a headache. There is no provision for the referee(s) to assess a major and game misconduct penalty under rule 48 (minor or match only). Based on the degree of impact to the head of Weise, it was correctly determined by the referees that John Moore deserved a match penalty (deliberate attempt to injure) and was immediately suspended. Moore has been suspended two games following his hearing with the P.S.C. this afternoon. To your point, Rick, there was an option, albeit ever so slight, for the referee(s) to impose a match penalty against Brandon Prust if first, they saw the play and second, deemed the illegal hit on Stepan was for no other purpose than to attempt to or deliberately injure the Ranger player. Given all the components of Prusts attack and delivery of the hit (excessively late, blindside and high) it would be reasonable to suspect it was not a normal "finish of a check" but instead designed to inflict punishment or even attempt to injure Stepan. Knowing the thinking habits of the referees, they would much prefer to impose the major and game misconduct option contained in the interference rule (or charging) and then let the P.S.C. rule under supplementary discipline if they deemed a suspension is warranted to the player as opposed to applying a match penalty that results in an immediate suspension and hearing. That option was not available to them last night when John Moore checked Dale Weise in the head beyond just two minutes worth! Based on the seriousness and potential consequences of any illegal contact to the head, I offer the following recommendations, Rick: - There should absolutely be no minor penalty option once the referee deems an illegal check to the head has been committed.- Only a major and game misconduct or match penalty should be assessed for an illegal check to the head. - Eliminate the fine line margin of tolerance and thinking that exists between "main point of contact" to the head for the referees to determine an illegal check to the head and for suspension purpose. If contact to the head of an opponent is "significant" through an elevated hit or otherwise, it should be judged as an illegal check to the head. Place the onus on the player making the hit to do so responsibly. - Keep players skates on the ice through a hit.- Hold players accountable for their poor decisions that result in significant contact to an opponents head with meaningful suspensions; beyond just two games.- Rule on the violence of the act and not the result; namely the presence or extent of injury. Discount NBA Jerseys . Trailing by a goal after 20 minutes of play, Joe Pavelski responded with three goals and an assist as the Sharks snapped a two-game losing skid with a 5-2 victory over the struggling Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Stitched NBA Jerseys . The football club recently announced an increase in season ticket prices in five of the seven categories at Investors Group Field for 2014. While most increases are in the two to three per cent range, the clubs most affordable season tickets will jump from $199 to $250 — a 26 per cent leap. https://www.nbachinajerseys.us/ . It was well worth the wait. 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Falls felled favourites such as 2010 world champion Daisuke Takahashi and defending Skate America winner Takahiko Kozuka. "I was quite happy to skate a program without major mistakes," Machida said through a translator. "I know there are many Japanese skaters with higher reputations than I have up to this present point. I am in the furthest position from being a favourite for the Olympic team. We only have three spots. It is going to be a very tough fight, but I have the determination." In ice dance, Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White easily won the short competition that featured the foxtrot and quickstep. They outclassed the field with their speed and technical precision, scoring 75.70 points. Anna Cappellini and Luca Lanotte of Italy were second at 69.88, and the American brother-sister team of Maia and Alex Shibutani followed at 61.26. The mens long program and ice dance free skate will be Saturday. Skate America marked Browns senior-level Grand Prix debut. He made quite a thematic statement, skating to Princes "The Question of U" and wearing a black, purple and silver-sequined outfit. Brown skated cleanly, showing showmanship, strong spins, and a good connection to the guitar-driven rock song. Brown was the only competitor in the field who does not attempt a quad, but did achieve strong height on his triple axel and triple flip-triple toe combinations. "My main goal was to get experience, and grow," Brown said. "Im really excited, a little bit shocked. I am so excited for the long (program)." Rippon wasnt sure if hed be able compete in the short program, after breaking his boot during Thursdays practice session. He had the boot repaired, and managed to post a personal-best score. His only mistake was touching down his right hand for balance, after an awkward landing on his opening quad lutz attempt. Rippon recovered his composure, powering through his triple axxel and triple flip-triple toe loop combo cleanly and with notable height.dddddddddddd Rippon was clearly pleased with his skate, to a suite of strings and drums music from "Carmen," happily pumping his fists at the conclusion. "My main goal was to go out there for the quad lutz and give it a good attempt," Rippon said. "I was a little hesitant out there throughout, but I tried not to show it. I love my short program, but I am even more comfortable with my long." The rest of the Skate America field suffered spills and disappointment. American Max Aaron fell on his first jumping pass, 22 seconds into his up-tempo program. He landed cross-footed on his quad salchow attempt, sealing his score to 75.91 and sixth place. Artur Gachinski of Russia upped the ante on mistakes, falling twice on his jumping passes. He fell hard on the landing of his opening quad toe loop, failing to complete the planned triple toe loop of the combination. Gachinski went down again on his next try, falling to his hands and knees. He was last at 69.81. The quad toe also felled Alexander Majorov of Sweden, as he destroyed the landing on his opening sequence. He scored 74.97 to land in seventh. Kozuka tripped during his triple lutz-triple toe sequence, as he stepped out of the lutz landing and failed to complete the combination. He had strong height on his other jumps, putting him in fourth place with 77.75. Takahashis subpar skate was a surprise. He under-rotated his opening quad toeloop, and fell. The tone was set, and Takahashis characteristic verve seemed sapped. He was fifth at 77.09. There are three notable omissions from the Skate America mens field, due to withdrawals. Missing were 2007 world champion Brian Joubert of France, rising star Denis Ten of Kazakhstan, and 2010 Vancouver Olympic gold medallist Evan Lysacek of the U.S. Ten, who finished second at the 2013 world championships, likely would have been the strongest contender of the three at Skate America. He has emerged as one of the top skaters in the world over the past year, buoyed by his evocative artistry. Skate America is a missed opportunity for Lysacek, who at 28, is in major comeback mode. He has not competed since he won the Olympic gold, and he will skate in a qualifying event and post a minimum score to be eligible for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. He withdrew from Skate America due to a torn labrum. ' ' '