Das Forum » un-penalized. This isnt "old school

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. Mr. Fraser, In the PIT/NYR Round 2 series, there have been two separate occasions where Marc Staal has taken blatant shots to the head of Pittsburghs Sidney Crosby. In Game 3, Staal hit Crosby with a viscous crosscheck to the back of the head. I was shocked that a penalty wasnt even called on the ice! The league then came out the following day and said that no punishment would be handed down for the hit. The following night, in Game 4, Staal again went after Crosbys head. This time it was a blatant elbow. Again, it was from behind, to the back of the head, nearly knocking the helmet off Crosbys head. Again, there was no call on the ice, and no action taken by the league. Can you explain to me how the league and officials, in this era of "no tolerance" for hits to the head, can allow this kind of thing to go on? How can there be no call on the ice? Obviously, since there was no action for the league, or penalty called, in Game 3, Staal figured he was cleared to do it again in Game 4. I mean, if the NHL doesnt care about the well-being of its marquee players, why should Staal? Thanks for listening. Any light you can shed on this subject would be great! John Waclo John: The cross-check that Marc Staal delivered on Sidney Crosby was well beyond just a minor infraction (Video link) and worthy of at least a five-minute major and game misconduct. This aggressive cross-check delivered to the head area could not be considered an effort by a defensive player to contain, engage in a battle in battle or to clear an opponent from the front of the net. The blow did not start at the name plate on the back of the jersey and then rode up to the neck and back of the helmet. This forceful, full-arm extension cross-check went directly to the back of the neck/head of Crosby and should be considered an attempt to injure and worthy of a match penalty under rule 59.4. For the sake of argument lets reverse the body position of Crosby where he and Staal are face-to-face. If that same force is delivered to the neck and chin of Sid he will most likely be spitting blood, chicklets and perhaps even incur another broken jaw. I would sincerely hope that a match penalty would be assessed in that case and a player would be suspended for cross-checking an opponent in the face! I see a deliberate and forceful cross-check to the back of a players neck and head to be similarly dangerous regardless of the fact it was delivered on a player with a well-documented history of concussions. If you want to see an "old school" hit take a look at the major and game misconduct I assessed to Darian Hatcher in a game in Dallas just prior to the playoffs, when he delivered an elbow to the face of Jeremy Roenick. Roenicks jaw was dislocated, broken in three places and he had eight teeth cracked or broken. Roenick approached me on the ice spitting blood and teeth with his jaw wagging in the breeze as he attempted to say, "He broke my f----n jaw!" Hatcher was suspended for seven games (including the Stars first five playoff games) by Colin Campbell for the illegal hit. See it here. John, you ask how these types of plays can be missed. The answer is there are too many "puck watchers" wearing stripes in these playoffs. Player safety is placed in jeopardy when these aggressive fouls are allowed to go un-penalized. This isnt "old school" officiating; just a lack of awareness. Logan Paulsen Jersey . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. Ito Smith Falcons Jersey . 1. CAVALIERS: At 19-20, theyre a mess. Watched the game Tuesday night vs. Phoenix and their defence was poor (107 points and 52 per cent for Suns). Where is the high level play from Kyrie Irving and LeBron James (13 turnovers!)? Kevin Love looks like a man thats wondering what he got himself into. http://www.falconsauthenticofficialonline.com/authentic-deadrin-senat-jersey.html . No pretty goals on this night, just get to the front of the net and fight for a chance. Ito Smith Jersey . INJURIES - Reds RF Jay Bruce is facing knee surgery for a torn meniscus and it could cost him a month of playing time. Chris Heisey, who has shown some pop (43 home runs, . Brandon Fusco Jersey . According to bodog.ca, Cleveland moved up to grab the best odds to win the Larry OBrian trophy at 4-1 on Friday. By comparison, the Miami Heats odds plummeted from 3-1 favourites before LeBron left, to 50-1.Watch Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson and Zach Johnson in action at this weeks AT&T Byron Nelson, with extended coverage live on Sky Sports. The live Feature Groups service begins on Thursday on the red button, Sky Sports iPad app and Sky Sports Xtra from 1pm for the first two rounds, ahead of full live coverage from 9pm on Sky Sports 4 HD. Day dominance motivates Spieth Jordan Spieth admits he is motivated by Jason Days form Farmers Insurance Open champion Brandt Snedeker kicks off Thursdays coverage when he features alongside Louis Oosthuizen and Matt Kuchar, who looks to build on last weeks strong showing at TPC Sawgrass. Louis Oosthuizen and Sergio Garcia are part of Thursdays coverage Sergio Garcia tees off in the following threeball alongside Keegan Bradley and Charl Schwartzel, who won eaarlier in the season at the Valspar Championship.ddddddddddddFridays offering begins with Open champion Zach Johnson teeing off with Dustin Johnson and defending champion Steven Bowditch. Soon after, world No 2 Jordan Spieth looks to build on his poor record at the TPC Four Seasons Resort as part of the marquee group containing 2012 champion Jason Dufner and Texas Open winner Jimmy Walker.Featured groups (all times BST): Thursday1.40pm: Louis Oosthuizen, Matt Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker1.50pm: Sergio Garcia, Charl Schwartzel and Keegan BradleyFriday Spieth hasnt finished higher than tied-16th in this event 1.40pm: Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson and Steven Bowditch1.50pm: Jason Dufner, Jordan Spieth and Jimmy WalkerWatch coverage of the AT&T Byron Nelson throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf Also See: Spieth seeks improvement Byron Nelson: 2015 highlights R&A bids to speed up play Golf live on Sky Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '