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. Hi Mr. Fraser, When I was watching the Heritage Classic in Vancouver there was a play midway through the third where Ottawa crashed the Canucks net and it came off its moorings. A Canuck picked up the puck, went the other way and the play was only whistled down when an Ottawa player touched it. I was wondering if there is anything keeping the Canuck goalie from going to the bench for an extra skater since in some ways its almost like a delayed Ottawa penalty? Thanks,Phil Meehan,Singapore Phil: We welcome you all the way from Singapore! Your suggestion qualifies you as a hockey rules visionary and places you in a unique category that would include the late, great coach and friend, Roger Neilson. Rog always thought outside the box as you have done with your question here in an effort to use the rules to his teams advantage. In the situation you propose, there is virtually no risk for a legal goal being scored against the non-offending team should the goalkeeper skate to his players bench in favor of an extra attacker. This would include any similar situation we saw earlier this season where Patrick Kane put the puck into his own net with the goalkeeper removed for an extra attacker on delayed penalty call. This is verified by the fact that video review can determine if a puck has been put in the net prior to the goal frame being dislodged. If through some misadventure this were to occur the goal would be disallowed. (Situations Subject to Video Review; rule 38.4 - ii). Before blasting off to the bench however, I would caution the goalkeeper to make sure that the net is completely off its moorings as defined by rule 78.4 and in the event that the referee should allow play to continue. From rule 78.4: "The goal frame shall be considered in its proper position when at least a portion of the flexible peg(s) are still inside both the goal post and the hole in the ice. The flexible pegs could be bent, but as long as at least a portion of the flexible peg(s) are still in the hole in the ice and the goal post, the goal frame shall be deemed to be in its proper position. The goal frame could be raised somewhat on one post (or both), but as long as the flexible pegs are still in contact with the holes in the ice and the goal posts, the goal frame shall not be deemed to be displaced." (The NHL rule is contrary to the IIHF definition of net off the moorings. We saw evidence of this in Sochi with Fedor Tyutins potentially game winning goal in the Russia-U.S.A. game being disallowed when Jonathan Quick bumped the post causing it to move back and off its set location but still in contact with the rubber pegs and the hole in the ice.) Heres a hypothetical to also consider on a play of this nature. If the pegs happened to remain in contact with the post and the hole in the ice (deemed in its proper position as per 78.4), should the goalkeeper deliberately push the net completely off the moorings prior to skating he could be subject to a delay of game penalty. Additionally, the goalkeeper should make certain the referee did not relocate the net in its proper position in an effort to sustain play prior to skating to his bench for an extra attacker. Captain Video, as Roger Neilson was referred to for his cutting edge, innovative use of video for game analysis, would be proud of your coaching suggestion Phil. Several rule changes were implemented as a result of Rogers knowledge of the rules and his ability to think outside the box. Only a goalkeeper is allowed defend a penalty shot after Roger placed a defenceman in the net and had him charge the shooter. A goal is now awarded if the goalkeeper places his stick across the goal line prior to going to the bench for an extra attacker and the stick prevents a puck from entering the unattended net. You can credit Roger for that rule as well. Towel waving by fans goes back to the 1982 Stanley Cup Playoff game in Chicago when Roger tied a white towel to a hockey stick and "surrendered" to referee Bob Myers. Roger and three of his players were rightly ejected from the game by the referee but it turned the series around and ignited the Canuck fans with a tradition of towel waiving that remains to this day! Under Coach Neilson the Canucks advanced to the 1982 Stanley Cup Final. In a very classy move by the Ottawa Senators (and then head coach Jacques Martin), Martin stepped aside for the final two games of the 2001-02 regular season to allow Roger Neilson, an Ottawa assistant, to be the coach of record and gain credit for his 1,000th NHL game. When the final horn sounded it was my honor as the referee in that game to embrace Coach Roger Neilson on the ice and offer my sincere congratulations in honor of his 1,000th NHL game. Roger was humble and gracious as always. On November 4, 2002 Roger Neilson was inducted into the Builders Category of the Hockey Hall of Fame. On June 21, 2003 Roger Neilson passed at the age of 69 and following his battle with cancer. Justin Turner Dodgers Jersey .com) - The New York Islanders will try to solve their issues against Central Division opponents when they visit the Minnesota Wild for Tuesdays battle at Xcel Energy Center. David Freese Dodgers Jersey . Louis Cardinals on Sunday afternoon; a brief, poor outing that served to highlight two trends that have developed this season. https://www.cheapdodgersonline.com/545h-...-dodgers.html.J. - Percy Harvin is ready to go, and theres no question in his mind hell be playing Sunday. Manny Mota Jersey . The German has taken the pole for three straight races -- winning the first two. Hes aiming for a third consecutive win at the Yeongam circuit and, most importantly, a fourth consecutive F1 championship. Dodgers Jerseys 2019 . 1. AMIR JOHNSON: Nice to see him back in the lineup Tuesday night in Washington DC. Played with great energy and purpose. Its amazing when a guy gets those few precious days to recover what it does to the bounce in their step and overall game/confidence.NEW YORK, N.Y. - Brook Lopez couldnt explain how happy he was to be back, though his smile said enough.For the Oklahoma City Thunder, it was more misery.Lopez scored 18 points in his first regular-season game in about 11 months, leading the Brooklyn Nets to the biggest home-opening romp in franchise history, a 116-85 victory over the injury-depleted Thunder on Monday night.I cant put it in words, Lopez said. It was great to be back out there. Ive missed it for a long time and our team definitely took care of business tonight. Our guys make it easy.Alan Anderson added 18 points and Deron Williams had 17 points and nine assists for the Nets, who got their leading scorer back on a night the Thunder, already without Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, lost yet another player to injury.Reggie Jackson scored 23 points in his season debut after missing the first three games with a sprained right ankle, but the Thunder left just as short-handed as they entered when starting guard Andre Roberson sprained his left foot. He played just 11 1/2 minutes of the first half and left on crutches. He wont play Tuesday at Toronto.Thats just how things are going right now. But were not throwing the white flag. Were going to keep battling, Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.With only nine players available, Jackson logged 42 minutes, shooting 8 of 20.I played pretty terrible. That sums it up. Seven turnovers. Shot poorly. I felt like I let I let my team down, Jackson said.Lopez was averaging a team-best 20.7 points when he broke his right foot last Dec. 20 against Philadelphia and had season-ending surgery. He was back for the start of training camp but sprained the foot during an exhibition game in China and missed the Nets first two games.He had played so little that coach Lionel Hollins joked before the game that he would watch the 7-footer to make sure he doesnt trip over his tongue.That wasnt a problem because Lopez got a quick rest, heading to the bench in less than three minutes after picking up two fouls. The Nets began bbuilding a big lead soon after, taking a 32-19 lead after going 5 of 7 from 3-point range in the first quarter.ddddddddddddopez shot 6 of 10 from the field and 6 of 7 from the foul line in 24 minutes, highlighted by a powerful dunk off a pass from Kevin Garnett in the first half.It was just good to see him have that bounce, explosion, Garnett said. We know hes having foot problems. Hes playing through a lot, man. And like Ive said, if were going to be anything, were going to need the big fellow.Brooklyn took a 59-40 lead to halftime when Bojan Bogdanovic and Mason Plumlee hooked up for an alley-oop to beat the buzzer.The Nets led by as many as 35 in the second half, Durant standing in the coaches huddle during timeouts with his broken right foot in a walking boot whenever Brooks tried unsuccessfully to halt Brooklyns momentum.The Thunder fell to 1-3, though this was the first time they were never really in the game. Perry Jones and Sebastian Telfair each finished with 16 points.___TIP-INSThunder: Oklahoma City had won five straight road games against the Nets, dating to when the franchise was based in New Jersey. ... Reserve Lance Thomas shot 1 of 10.Nets: Garnett appeared in his 1,380th regular-season game, tying former Net Cliff Robinson for eighth on the career list. ... The Nets are 3-0 in home openers since moving to Brooklyn. The Empire State Building was shining black and white lights to celebrate this opener. ... The Nets will play four games during a weeklong homestand, including one against the rival New York Knicks on Friday.BEYOND THE BORDERSThe Nets had Bogdanovic (Croatia), Andrei Kirilenko (Russia), Sergey Karasev (Ukraine), Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) and Jerome Jordan (Jamaica) on the court together in the fourth quarter, the first time in franchise history they have played five international players at one time.UP NEXTThunder: Visit Toronto on Tuesday, wrapping up an opening week that sends them 6,300 miles for five games, just one at home.Nets: Host Minnesota on Wednesday. ' ' '