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. Hey Kerry, Undoubtedly you will receive a lot of emails regarding this game. I have a question regarding the position of the linesman on the missed offside call that led to the Avs tying the game late in the third period against the Wild on Friday. Why is the linesman positioned outside the blue line? Shouldnt he be inside the line so that his body or skates arent inadvertently the cause of an offside for the attacking team? If he were in position inside the line, he surely wouldnt have to lean away from the line as he does in the photograph all over the media. I would like to know your thoughts. Thanks. DJ Waldron DJ, I want to establish first and foremost that Pierre Racicot is universally accepted as one of the top linesman in the NHL. Racicots high level of skill and competency has been recognized with seven consecutive selections to work the Stanley Cup Final. I worked many games with Pierre and can tell you firsthand that he has earned much deserved respect from players and coaches throughout the League. No matter how good a player or official is, mistakes are sometimes made. The great officials minimize their mistakes and Racicot clearly falls into that category. This is one of the very few times that this linesman got the call wrong. Let me explain why that happened. As you point out DJ, linesman Racicots initial decision to set up outside the blue line created an obstructed view of the inside edge of the line once Nathan MacKinnon carried the puck a mere couple of feet in front of the linesman. From this less than perfect position, and with Paul Stastny in full stride and about to cross the line to the right of MacKinnon, Racicot made the quick, but unfortunate, decision to alter his upper body posture away from the line. This move, made in a millisecond of time, was initiated by the linesman in an effort to gain an angle that might allow him to see both the puck and Stastny crossing the inside edge of the blue line. What this new angle created for the linesman, however, was a sightline toward the middle of the ice that became obstructed by the body of MacKinnon. Offside resulted in the blink of an eye as Stastnys lead skate (and with his back skate in the air not in contact with the line or outside the attacking zone) crossed inches ahead of the puck and resulted in a rare missed call by Racicot. I had the opportunity to work with some incredibly talented linesmen during the course of my career; Pierre Racicot included. As I was writing this column I spoke with HHOF member and former colleague Ray Scapinello to provide us with some technical insight on a play of this nature. Scamp said that he learned from fellow Hall-of-Fame members John DAmico and Matt Pavelich that, as a rule of thumb, it was imperative for the linesman to be set inside the blue line prior to players and the puck crossing the line. Im sure it might have happened through unavoidable circumstance but I cant ever remember Scapinello making a decision on an off-side from the neutral zone. On the contrary, I have vivid memories of Scamp positioned inside the zone, down on one knee and looking along the inside edge of the blue line to render his accurate decision on a close call. Once the play was deemed on-side, the little fellow jumped up and quickly moved his skates outside the blue line to avoid being hit with the puck and preventing it from exiting the zone. Ray stressed the importance of the linesmen seeing the attack develop, moving quickly to set up inside the blue line and waiting to make the call as the puck and players cross the line. Scamp said this, especially with the red line no longer in play for the off-side pass rule and the linesmen must be dialed in for potential stretch passes. When set up inside the blue line, Ray said it didnt matter if all five attacking players crossed the line at the same time because his view would not be obstructed. The rare missed offside call by Racicot was an anomaly for this highly skilled professional linesman. He will learn from this experience and gain an unobstructed sightline from a position inside the blue line whenever possible. If, in the future, there is a need to alter his upper body posture/sightline along the line, my guess is Pierre will lean toward the inside edge instead of away from it. This play not only demonstrates the speed of the game but also that human error can and will occur, no matter good the player or official is. This play aside, the NHL Officiating Department could certainly use Hockey Hall of Fame legendary linesman Ray Scapinello to lead and coach the current crop of NHL linesmen, no matter how proficient they might be. Scamp learned from the very best in his day; the present group of linesman should be afforded the same privilege. Antonio Garcia Jersey . - Gary Kubiak is John Elways No. Tom Brady Jersey . Tokarski, a somewhat controversial choice -- with his 10 games of NHL experience and all -- to replace an injured Carey Price in Game Two had a night to remember, turning back a Rangers team that was dominating play from the get-go, outshooting the Canadiens 14-4 in the first period and 37-25 overall. http://www.patriotsauthenticshop.com/Patriots-Donta-Hightower-Draft-Jersey/ . 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Seattle, West co-leader Real Salt Lake and East leader Sporting Kansas City all have 42 points.Lexington, KY (SportsNetwork.com) - Aaron Harrison scored all of his 14 points in the second half and No. 1 Kentucky got all it could handle from Vanderbilt before pulling away late for a 65-57 win on Tuesday. Vandy was within three with five minutes to play and four at 2:36 after Matthew Fisher-Davis drilled his fourth 3-pointer of the game. Harrison answered with a trey of his own, and his brother Andrew scored on a layup to help the nations top team stay unbeaten. I think he played so well in the second half, said Kentucky coach John Calipari. Thats who he is. And I thought his brother played that well, too. They both played with unbelievable energy. Dakari Johnson added 10 points for Kentucky (18-0, 5-0 SEC) and Willie Cauley- Stein had a game-high 10 rebounds. Riley LaChance shot 6-of-8 for 16 points and Fisher-Davis had 13 for Vanderbilt (11-7, 1-4), which has dropped its last four games after opening league play with a win over Auburn. Damian Jones gave 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. We did some good things and just didnt do quite enough, Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said. There is really no consolation in doing some good things. Kentucky appeared on its way to a rout after scoring the games first seven points and forcing turnovers on Vandys first three touches.ddddddddddddBut LaChance hit from deep at 16:29, and the Commodores came to life. Four straight points by James Siakam on a dunk and two free throws had Vanderbilt within a point near the halfway mark of the first half. Kentucky then began to distance itself with seven in a row, but Jones scored on three straight possessions to keep the visitors within range. The Wildcats nearly put the game away halfway through the second half, when a pair of Tyler Ulis free throws gave them their biggest lead at 45-33. But Fisher-Davis hit a trey and LaChance got a transition layup to force a timeout. LaChance hit two more 3s over the next few minutes, and Fisher-Davis connected from deep at 5:06 to pull Vanderbilt within three. Game Notes This is the second time under John Calipari that Kentucky has started 18-0. Calipari has done it four times in his coaching career ... Vanderbilt fell to 1-4 in true road games this season ... All 10 Wildcats that played score at least three points. Only two reached double figures. Blackhawks Jerseys Store Cheap Wild Jerseys Cheap Red Wings Jerseys Cheap Maple Leafs Jerseys Penguins Jerseys Store Capitals Jerseys For Sale Blues Jerseys Store Cheap Kings Jerseys Adidas Lightning Jerseys Stars Jerseys For Sale Cheap Predators Jerseys Ducks Store Sharks Jerseys For Sale Cheap Sabres Jerseys Rangers Jerseys For Sale ' ' '