Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn. Daniel Descalso Jersey .ca. Hello Mr. Fraser, With all the changes being made to increase scoring and offensive play in the NHL, why do the linesmen continue to stand on the outside of the blue line? This appears to create too many unnecessary stoppages in play due to offsides during offensive zone entry, where the puck is sent into the linesmens skates/legs and he has not enough time to react to allow the entry to proceed according to plan. I just checked online and what I found says they should be inside the blue line, but they seem to always be just outside (or at least I notice more when that happens, rather that when the chip in hits them and their arm doesnt go up because they are inside the line). Is it because in some rinks the glass starts at the blue line and they have to prop themselves up onto the ledge of the players bench to avoid being hit by the puck? Maybe these incidents tend to occur mostly in those rinks and not the ones where the bench extends further into the zone past the blue line. Thanks for reading!Rich Mandez Hi Rich: There are a few potential obstacles in the current NHL that the linesmen have to be aware of and overcome as they set up to make the correct call at the attacking blue line. - The removal of the center red line for the purpose of a two-line offside pass stretches the attacking zone all the way to the far blue line. - The enhanced standard by the referees to eliminate restraining fouls has created considerable speed through the neutral zone as teams transition more quickly on the attack. - Players are much bigger on average than any other era of the game, creating additional congestion on the ice. (Have you noticed the towering size of many of the current crop of linesmen as well?) - The "four-man officiating system" has added another body on the ice; one of which always leads the play by skating backwards into the attacking zone. Often his entry into the zone can be on the same side of the ice that the linesman making the off-side call at the blue line is positioned. - They are required to support their fellow linesman close to the foreword blue line in the event that he is bumped off the line and then must reverse direction quickly as the play transitions in the other direction toward the blue line that is his primary responsibility. Fast breaks can make this quite challenging. The bottom line Rich is that the linesman must do whatever is necessary to assume the very best position in order to see the puck cross the inside edge of their respective blue line ahead of any attacking player. This requires skating skill, speed, agility and athleticism which the NHL linesmen demonstrate on a consistent basis during every game! The "best position" is often obtained by sliding into the zone just ahead of the play and to gain an "unobstructed view" of the inside edge of the blue line. This inside position also allows the puck to cross the line cleanly without restriction by accidentally striking a linesman in the neutral zone as you suggest Rich. Once the puck enters the zone legally, the linesman is then required to immediately reposition himself outside the blue line in the neutral zone to prevent his body and skates from interfering with the pucks exit from the zone. In theory this sounds like a pretty simple process doesnt it Rich. In practice however, given the bullet point obstacles I mentioned and others I didnt, its not at all easy to accomplish. I am amazed at the close plays on the blue line that are almost always ruled correctly by the linesmen. These are the times we never even notice them. Often the only time we do notice the linesmen is on the rare occasion when the puck does hit them on dump or chip when they havent yet assumed that best position inside the zone through some unavoidable circumstance. When players gain the red line and pound the puck in their direction the linesmen are most vulnerable to being struck and even injured. They should avoid sitting up on the boards because from this position they are most vulnerable to being hit without any means of escape other than by being knocked into the players bench! I can assure you the linesmen do their very best to stay out of the way of the puck and flow of play but at times it just isnt possible. Perhaps your question here Rich will inspire the linesmen to work a little harder at gaining the most desired location inside the line whenever possible. The most creative linesman I ever worked with and certainly one of the very best of all-time is Hockey Hall of Fame linesman Ray Scapinello (inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008). Ray was no giant at 57" tall but was lightning fast on his skates and earned the respect of every player and coach in the League. When Scotty Morrison hired 611" linesman Mike Cvik he paired him with the diminutive Scapinello in his first assignment in Toronto. Aside from the opportunity to learn from one of the best in Scapinello, Scotty demonstrated his sense of humor by putting Mutt and Jeff together in that game. When I was added to that tandem as the referee Scamp and I told big Honda not to stand near us for the National Anthem! Ray Scapinello read the play just as quickly as he skated and demonstrated a unique flair in making his calls on the blue line. Im sure he might have missed a call or two over his career because no one is perfect but I must confess I cant ever remember seeing him miss one in the many, many big games we worked together! Scamp would not only get inside the zone ahead of the play but on the close ones he would be down on one knee with his eyes set like a laser on the inside edge of the blue line. He did whatever was necessary to make the call. One time as players approached him with speed down the wall, rather than bump into the attacking zone I witnessed Ray jump into the players bench at the blue line to make the call;. The players seated on the bench had a stunned look on their face as Scampy made a washout signal from their side of the boards and then jumped back onto the ice once the attacking players passed by. Scampy always found a way to make the call from the best and most desired position. I am sure his advice to the current group of linesmen is to read and react to the play quickly and then move your feet to get in the best and most desired position to make the call. Ray Scapinello is without a doubt one of the very best linesman in the history of the NHL. Tyler Chatwood Cubs Jersey .com) - Robert Martin and Josh Hicks combined for more than 300 yards rushing and three touchdowns, as Rutgers rolled past North Carolina, 40-21, in the Quick Lane Bowl. James Norwood Jersey .com) - Maria Sharapova reached her 10th career grand slam final after beating Ekaterina Makarova in straight sets at the Australian Open on Thursday. https://www.cheapcubs.com/2890t-moises-alou-jersey-cubs.html . A spokeswoman for the NLRB says its "a very incremental move" and does not necessarily indicate the board is close to a finding in the case. NFL owners filed an unfair labour charge against the players union in February, arguing that the union was not negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement in good faith.DENVER -- Ian Kennedy pitched seven sharp innings, Rene Rivera hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the sixth and the San Diego Padres beat the Colorado Rockies 6-1 on Monday night in a game that included a 56-minute weather delay. Chase Headley added four hits for San Diego, including a two-run triple in the seventh inning to break open a close game. Kennedy seemed to gain strength the deeper he got into the game, striking out five of the last six batters he faced before wind, rain and lightning forced the delay heading into the eighth inning. Kevin Quackenbush stepped in for Kennedy when play resumed. Kennedy (7-9) finished with nine strikeouts, boosting his team-leading total this season to 125. He allowed four hits in seven innings, including Drew Stubbs leadoff home run in the fourth. The outing by Kennedy extended a strong run by the Padres rotation. San Diegos starting pitchers have allowed only six runs over the last seven games, helping the Padres go 5-2 in that stretch. The Padres improved to 28-4 this season when scoring four or more runs, the second-best mark in baseball behind Washington, which is 39-3 when scoring at least four times. Slumping Colorado lost for the 18th time in the last 21 games. With the score tied at 1-1 in the sixth, Tommy Medica hit a one-out double and Rivera followed with a double to left. One out later, Cameron Maybin sent a drive to the warning track in left ccentre that seemed to get caught in swirling winds and dropped just beyond the reach of Corey Dickersons glove as the Padres took a 3-1 lead. Craig Kimbrel Jersey. San Diego added three runs in the seventh. Kennedy drew a leadoff walk and Chris Denorfia singled to chase Tyler Matzek (1-3). Headley greeted Matt Belisle with a triple off the right-field wall, scoring Kennedy and Denorfia. Carlos Quentins sacrifice fly put the Padres in front by five runs. Matzek was charged with five runs and eight hits in six innings. He walked four and struck out four. Brooks Conrad got the Padres on the board with a sacrifice fly in the fourth. NOTES: RHP Tyson Ross, the Padres lone All-Star representative, is scheduled to start Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers and wont pitch in next Tuesdays Midsummer Classic, though hell be in attendance for the festivities, according to manager Bud Black. Ross is slated to start Tuesdays Game 2 against LHP Franklin Morales and the Rockies. ... Kennedys team-leading 19th start also tied him for the most starts in the majors this season. ... Kennedy has worked six or more innings in 15 of his starts this year. ... The Rockies have lost seven of their last 11 meetings with San Diego dating to last September. ... Stubbs is batting .333 (6 for 18) with two home runs midway through the Rockies 10-game homestand. ... Rockies batters struck out 13 times in all. ' ' '