Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn. Authentic Derwin James Jersey .ca. Hi Mr Fraser Can you clarify if I was in a time-warp over the weekend? In the 2nd period, Evander Kane boarded Clayton Stoner from behind, and got a deserved major penalty. However, while a teammate was engaging with Kane, Stoner got up, dropped his gloves and punched Kane 3 times in the head. It looked like the 1970s Flyers with Schultz and Dupont ganging up on an opponent, and the refs duly ignoring it. Stoner got 2 for roughing. How many bare-fisted punches to the head do you get for 2 minutes? And isnt there a 3rd man in rule anymore? Kane was partially tied up by the other Ducks player while Stoner was unloading. Surely theres an irony to Kane getting ejected for a dangerous hit but Stoner getting 2 minutes for 3 bare-fisted punches to Kanes head while Kane is not even free to defend or protect himself. So much for the NHL wanting to protect its players from head injuries. Then in the 3rd Dustin Byfuglien was in alone on a breakaway and was impeded (a little bit) by Sami Vatanen who got 2:00 for slashing. OK, it was a borderline call, maybe, but either you have to give a penalty shot, surely, or else make no call. Again, it looked like a bit of 1970s and 1980s let em play officiating. This inconsistency makes the NHL look bad, in my opinion. What do you think? Thanks Brian Jose Durres, Albania -- Mr. Fraser. Just watched Evander Kanes hit from behind and completely agree with the penalty and misconduct, my question is as Kanes engaged with the teammate the Ducks player gets up drops the gloves and starts throwing as third man in. He was assessed a 2 minute penalty for this, would seem to me it should have been evened out. Like to know your opinion. Thanks, Paul Paul and Brian (Many thanks for coming to us all the way from Durres, Albania): There is no question the referee(s) assessed the appropriate penalty to Evander Kane, five minutes plus a game misconduct, for a check from behind that drove Clayton Stoner face-first into the glass. I have no doubt that Kane will be suspended for this careless and dangerous hit. As both of you have alluded to in your question, a free pass should not be given to any player who wishes to retaliate but must be held accountable for his actions under the playing rules as the penalty meter continues to run. An altercation (46.3) is defined as a situation involving two players with at least one to be penalized. This definition was clearly satisfied once Kane delivered the illegal hit on Stoner. There was a minimal time delay from the moment of the hit (and with Stoner still down on the ice) to when Sami Vatanen of the Ducks approached Kane with his stick in a prone, cross-check position to engage the Jets player. If Stoner had not gotten up off the ice and immediately attacked Kane the intervention by Vatanen could have been treated as a separate altercation and penalized accordingly. In this scenario Vatanens actions were worthy of a minor penalty for roughing. Depending upon Kanes response to Vartanen, all we had at that point was a major and game misconduct to Kane and a minor to Vatanen. This changed, however, when Stoner got up off the ice, threw his gloves down and began unloading bombs to the facial area of Kane, who was now engaged with Vatanen. Based on Stoners aggressive actions, well beyond a simple roughing incident, he was no longer the victim of an illegal hit but potentially the instigator of a subsequent fight. Stoner threw three punches, one of which appeared to get through and connect to the face of Kane. In a perfect world, Stoner should have been assessed two minutes for instigating, five minutes for fighting and a 10 minute misconduct and Vartanen a roughing minor and game misconduct as the third man into an altercation. A perfect world it is not and as rule 46 (fighting) states, The referees are provided very wide latitude in the penalties which they may impose under this rule. This is done intentionally to enable them to differentiate between the obvious degrees of responsibility of the participants for either starting the fighting or persisting in continuing the fighting. To be fair and in consideration of the wide latitude granted to the referee, the punches thrown by Stoner did not commence until after Vartanen intervened and engaged Kane, which would cause some reluctance for the referee to determine a third man in. The linesmen were also quick to intervene and restrain Stoner from continuing to throw punches. It would be reasonable, under these circumstances, for the referee to forgo a fighting major to Stoner but to instead treat the entire altercation as separate roughing incidents. Im not into the even up theory here, Paul, and disagree with the final assessment of penalties. At the very least, Stoner deserved a double-minor for roughing based on the number of attempted punches thrown and Vartanen, a single roughing minor in the aftermath of the check from behind delivered by Kane. Kane did not respond other than in an attempt to fend off both Vartanen and Stoner by raising his hands in a defensive posture. As such, Kane was deserving of nothing beyond the major and game misconduct. The Jets should have received a 4-on-3 numerical advantage for two minutes (assuming a Jets PP goal did not result), following which the teams would play four aside another two minutes. The Ducks would then receive a one minute power-play for the duration of Kanes major infraction. An assessment of penalties in this manner identifies the actions of each individual player and holds them more accountable under the rules. It also sends a message to players who seek retribution that they nullify a potential power-play their team was about to receive and in this case end up a man short. At 4:56 of the third period, Vartanen made light contact to the hip area of Dustin Bufuglien with a slash as the Jets player was in the act of shooting on a clear breakaway. A penalty shot is awarded to restore a lost scoring opportunity. The contact delivered by Vartanen did not restrict Bufugliens shot or scoring opportunity and was unworthy of penalty shot. The minor penalty for slashing was based more on the full extension for Vartanen to make contact than the degree of force exerted. Authentic Michael Davis Jersey .ca NBA Power Rankings. Winners of 15 straight, with a healthy roster, the Spurs have overtaken the Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder for the number one ranking. Authentic Antonio Gates Jersey . - Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors will coach the Western Conference in the All-Star Game on Feb. http://www.cheapchargersjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-melvin-ingram-jersey . The third-ranked Lewis, a three-time winner this year on the LPGA Tour, had a 9-under 135 total at Emirates Golf Course in the Ladies European Tours season-ending tournament. OKLAHOMA CITY -- Russell Westbrook wouldnt say he wanted payback against Patrick Beverley. His play said otherwise. During last years playoffs, Beverley dived for the ball and ran into Westbrooks right knee as a timeout was being called, causing the injury that ended Westbrooks season and cost him about half of this season. In their first meeting since the incident, Westbrook had 24 points, seven assists and four steals to help the Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the Houston Rockets 106-98 on Tuesday night. Beverley finished with two points and five fouls in 25 minutes while being booed by a spirited crowd. His matchup with Westbrook highlighted a game filled with shoving, technical fouls, talking and even a flagrant foul. "Two great teams that want to win: Its that simple," Houstons James Harden, who scored 28 points, said. "When you get that anytime in the NBA, things are going to get physical." The chippiness started early. Beverley swiped the ball away from Westbrook after a timeout with 6:10 left in the first quarter. Beverley and Westbrook had to be separated, and Beverley issued a technical foul. Beverley and Westbrook got tangled up again about a minute later, but again, Westbrook kept his cool. Durant said Westbrooks ability to turn the energy into a strong performance was impressive. "He just went out there and played to win," Durant said. "Thats how Russell always plays -- with an edge, with that intensity, and tonight was no different." Beverley said he wasnt trying to get inside of Westbrooks head. "Thats how I play against everybody," he said. "No personal battles out there today. I had to go out there and fight and do what I do to try to help our team win a basketball game today." If anything, the intensity initiated by the Rockets worked against them. "I think if we just stick to what we do and do it to the best of our abilities, no matter whats going on, well be good," Harden said. "Sometimes we kind of veer off, kind of get distracted a little bit." Durant scored 42 points and Serge Ibaka had 12 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks for the Thunder, who had lost two straight. Chandler Parsons scored 19 and Dwight Howard had nine points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets. Houston had won five straight, iincluding victories over Miami, Indiana and Portland. Authentic Lance Alworth Jersey. Midway through the second quarter, Harden and backup Oklahoma City point guard Reggie Jackson had to be separated. Westbrook spent the rest of the second quarter dominating Beverley. Westbrook blew past him for a layup, then lost him on a screen and made a 3-pointer to put the Thunder up 49-32. Westbrook drew Beverleys third foul on a 3-point attempt with 2:50 left in the first half. Westbrook scored 11 points in the final 6:19 of the quarter to help the Thunder take a 56-41 lead at the break. Oklahoma City held Houston to 35 per cent shooting in the first half. Howard committed his third and fourth fouls in the first two minutes of the third quarter, and Beverley committed his fourth with 8:52 left in the third as the Thunder maintained control. Oklahoma City led by 18 at one point in the third quarter, but the Rockets chipped away late in the period and trailed 77-67 heading into the fourth. Houston rallied, and a 3-pointer by Francisco Garcia and a dunk by Omer Asik cut Oklahoma Citys lead to 77-72 early in the fourth. Durant answered with five straight points to put the Thunder back in control. The game remained chippy. Garcia got hit in the face by Durant, drawing a technical. Harden hit a 3-pointer with Derek Fisher in his face to trim Oklahoma Citys lead to 97-92 with 2:23 to go. Westbrook drew Beverleys fifth foul on a 3-point attempt, drawing a cheer from the crowd. Westbrook drained all three free throws to put the Thunder up 102-94 with 1:31 to play. Durant said the Thunder closed the game the right way after Houstons surge. "Stay calm," he said. "Stay cool. Try not to panic." NOTES: Thunder coach Scott Brooks said before the game that C Kendrick Perkins (left groin strain) and Thabo Sefolosha (left calf strain) are a ways from being ready to play. Perkins was hurt Feb. 20 against Miami. Sefolosha was injured Feb. 28 against Memphis. ... Durant scored 12 points in the first quarter. ... Oklahoma Citys post players combined to commit seven fouls in the first quarter. ... Howard was called for a technical foul in the second quarter after disagreeing with an offensive foul call. ... Oklahoma City centre Steven Adams was called for a flagrant 1 for making contact with Hardens head. ' ' '