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,Absolutely love your column and love your answers. My question is in the Tuesday night game of Red Wings v. Blue Jackets, Cam Atkinson clearly scored Columbus third goal after the net was dislodged. Im confused how the referees were able to decide that the goal was scored before the net came off when it seemed to clearly come off before the goal crossed the line. Im just wondering how the refs came to their conclusion and if it was correct.Thanks Kerry,Jacob Messing Hi Ref,How can a player score when the net is clearly off the mooring> When the net is off the moorings you cant allow a goal. Maybe get a penalty for moving the net, but no goal. Obviously that was the wrong call, and could mean a missed playoff. Are Referees demoted from the playoffs for these terrible calls? Thanks for your answer.Jim Carmody Jacob and Jim:Thank you for your questions on this unique situation that caused many fans to scratch their heads in amazement as to how a goal can be scored with the net clearly off the moorings. I have two personal experiences to share with you that resulted in the formulation and eventual amendment of rule 63.6 which I hope will clear up any confusion. It was under this specific rule that Referee Chris Rooney correctly awarded a goal to Cam Atkinson of the Columbus Blue Jackets after Atkinsons body contacted the post and knocked off its moorings. I provide you with the history of the rule and the correct application. Rule 63.6—In the event that the goal post is displaced, either deliberately or accidentally, by a defending player, prior to the puck crossing the goal line between the normal position of the goalposts, the Referee may award a goal. In order to award a goal in this situation, the goal post must have been displaced by the actions of a defending player, the puck must have been shot (or the player must be in the act of shooting) at the goal prior to the goal post being displaced, and it must be determined that the puck would have entered the net between the normal position of the goal posts. Now for your first history lesson as to how this rule came about. In the mid 1980s I was assigned to work a game in the St. Louis Arena between the Blues and the Edmonton Oilers. On a particular shift the Oiler stars were sustaining incredible pressure in the Blues end zone. It looked like a shooting gallery against Blues goalkeeper Mike Liut as he slid from side to side making one incredible save after another. That is until one stacked-pad-slide by Liut took the tender well outside of his goal crease. The rebound came right onto the stick of Glenn Anderson standing all alone in the middle slot. As Anderson was about to trigger a shot into the unguarded cage for a sure goal, Blues defenceman Tim Bothwell lifted the net completely off its moorings and began to skate it toward the corner of the rink! Anderson looked puzzled and continued to reposition his feet toward the moving target. I blew the whistle and assessed a delay of game penalty to Bothwell. The Blues killed the penalty and a "sure goal" by Anderson had been averted. I made a rule proposal that was adopted to allow the ref to award a goal if the net was deliberately displaced by a defending player and the attacker shot the puck (or in the act of shooting) and the puck passed through the normal position of the net. The initial rule only applied when the net was "deliberately" displaced. Fast-forward to the modern day NHL and a game I worked in Vancouver between the Canucks and the Sabres. Buffalo created a two-on-one attack with the second Canuck defenceman giving chase. As the attackers approached the net the trailing D made a desperation diving poke-check attempt. The defending players out of control slide knocked the net off its moorings just prior to the shot entering the net. The sure goal had to be disallowed and no penalty could be assessed since the action of the defending player that knocked the net off the mooring was accidental. Due to the fact that a sure goal had been denied through the "actions" of a defending player in both situations (deliberate in St. Louis (80s) and accidental in Vancouver (2000s) the language of the rule was amended to include "accidentally" whenever the specific criteria of rule 63.6 was satisfied. In Tuesdays game Matt Calvert and Cam Atkinson took flight on a two-on-one break with Niklas Kronwall defending and his defence partner, Brendan Smith giving chase from behind. Jimmy Howard made a left pad save on Calverts shot but could not control or freeze the rebound. Atkinson attacked the net from the opposite side and initiated a hard stop at the top-inside of the crease with an opportunity to put the loose puck into the net for a sure goal. As Atkinson was positioning his stick to play the puck (act of shooting) Smith made physical contact with his stick and hip on Atkinson that moved the Blue Jackets player into the goal post and knocked the net off of the moorings. Some will say that the contact exerted by Smith was minimal and insufficient to knock the net off the moorings without some responsibility placed on Atkinson. The replay shows that Atkinsons momentum and forward progress was altered significantly and he accelerated from his initial stop inside the top of the crease after the contact by Smith was initiated and completed. It is also evident that Atkinson attempted to push back and stop following the contact by Smith with a second, separate spray of snow from his skate blade. Referee Chris Rooney made an excellent, quick decision when he correctly applied rule 63.6 to award the goal to Atkinson following the actions of Smith that "accidentally" caused the goal post to be displaced prior to the puck crossing the goal line. Watching this play I saw history repeated. Jordan 12 Sale Cheap . Western and the second-ranked Laval Rouge et Or (7-0) once again received 20 and 10 first-place votes from the Football Reporters of Canada panel, respectively. Rounding out the Top 10 are the Calgary Dinos (7-0), Queens Gaels (7-1), Guelph Gryphons (7-1), Montreal Carabins (5-2), Bishops Gaiters (5-2), McMaster Marauders (5-3), Manitoba Bisons (4-3) and the Saskatchewan Huskies (4-3) Western crushed York 50-10 last Saturday in its league finale to secure first place in the OUA standings and a bye in the first round of the conference playoffs. Jordan 12 Cheap Real . The Philadelphia left fielder clubbed a tiebreaking, solo home run in the seventh inning, and the Phillies edged the Red Sox, 2-1, in the middle test of a three-game interleague series at Citizens Bank Park. http://www.airjordan12canada.com/ . They probably ruined Tim Duncans hopes of a career change, though. Duncan wants to be a point guard, coach Gregg Popovich revealed Saturday, a wish that wont be granted. Air Jordan 12 Sale Canada . Howard had 17 points and a career-high-tying 26 rebounds in his Houston debut, James Harden added 21 points and the Rockets cruised to a 96-83 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. Cheap Jordan 12 For Sale .C. -- North Carolina State coach Mark Gottfried said his team had a "golden" opportunity to help its NCAA tournament chances.CLEVELAND -- Leave it to Nick Swisher, a man of many words, to come up with the best explanation after the Cleveland Indians broke their six-game losing streak with a 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. "It didnt matter how we got it," he said, shaking his head. "Thats a much-needed win, not only for us but for our fans. Its crazy how this game works." No one would disagree with Swishers assessment. The comeback from a five-run deficit helped the Indians avoid their first 0-7 homestand since Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 1990, and took some of the sting out of what had been a disastrous week. Cleveland lost the first six games on its biggest homestand of the season and appeared well on its way to No. 7. "Its been a rough week," Swisher said. "This is huge for us." Michael Bourn drove in the go-ahead run with a seventh-inning single. The Indians, held to one hit through five innings, got back in the game in the sixth on two-run homers by Swisher and Mike Aviles, who entered the game in the third after shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was ejected. Carlos Santanas leadoff homer in the seventh off J.C. Gutierrez (0-3) tied the game. Lonnie Chisenhall drew a one-out walk and moved to second on Drew Stubbs single. Nick Maronde relieved, but Bourn lined his first pitch to left field, giving Cleveland the lead. "I cant really explain it to you," Bourn said of the comeback. "We never gave up." For five innings, it looked as if the Indians were about to go winless on the homestand. Justin Masterson allowed five runs in 4 1-3 innings and Clevelands hitters were completely baffled by Angels starter Jerome Williams. "The one thing we did was we kept playing," manager Terry Francona said. "Thats the kind of team we have to be." Matt Albers (3-1) pitched 1 2-3 innings and Chris Perez recorded his 18th save as the Indians bullpen threw 4 2-3 scoreless innings. Perez, who allowed four runs in the ninth to blow a save against Detroit in the first game of the homestand Monday, retired the side in order in the ninth. The Indians had won 10 of 11 and were only three games behind Detroit in the American League Central when the week began, but were swept in a four-game series against the Tigers and lost the first two games to the Angels. The Indians, who were outscored 42-21 on the homestand, trail Detroit by seven games as they begin a nine-game road trip that takes them to Minnesota, Oakland and Los Angeles. Francona admitted he had a meeting with his players following Saturday nights 7-2 loss, a game in which the Indians committed a season-high four errors. His message centred on the proper way to deal with frustration when things are going poorly. "We cant just show up," Francona said.dddddddddddd"We have to find a way to be better than the other team and play nine innings." The Indians looked sloppy and frustrated in the early going. Cabrera, who failed to make two plays in the second, was ejected in the bottom of the inning for arguing a strike call. Aviles replaced Cabrera at shortstop and made a throwing error in the fourth. Josh Hamiltons RBI single and Mark Trumbos run-scoring groundout in first gave the Angels a 2-0 lead. Mike Trout drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single in the second for the Angels, who came into town with a four-game losing streak. The second-inning rally began with one out when Hank Conger singled off Swishers glove at first. Cabrera couldnt field Grant Greens hard ground ball, which moved Conger to third. Masterson had a chance to get out of the inning when Conger was forced out at home on J.B. Shucks ground ball, but he walked Kole Calhoun to load the bases. Trout grounded a 1-2 pitch to the left of Cabrera, who took a half step and made no attempt to dive for the ball. Green and Shuck scored on the play. Cabrera wasnt around much longer. Leading off the bottom of the inning, he stepped out of the box after taking a called second strike and exchanged words with plate umpire Vic Carapazza. He then struck out swinging, argued with the umpire again and was ejected. Cabrera flung his bat and helmet to the ground before going to the dugout. Williams was in complete control going into the sixth. He retired 10 in a row before Bourn singled with two outs. Swishers drive cleared the wall in left and cut the lead to 5-2. After Jason Kipnis walked, Aviles homered into the bleachers in left, which finished Williams. "Jerome showed so many good things out there today," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He pitched a strong game." NOTES: Angels OF Peter Bourjos (broken right wrist) will be recalled this week from his rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Salt Lake. He has been on the 15-day disabled list since June 30. ... Angels LHP Jason Vargas (blood clot in armpit) threw a bullpen session before the game and could start Tuesday against the Yankees. ... The Angels wrap up their seven-game road trip with a four-game series against the Yankees. Los Angeles RHP Garrett Richardson (3-4) takes on New York RHP Hiroki Kuroda (10-7) in the opener Monday. ... Santana was back behind the plate for the first time since Thursday. He played first base Friday and was the designated hitter Saturday, allowing Yan Gomes to catch. ... The Indians begin their nine-game, 10-day road trip Monday in Minnesota. Cleveland RHP Danny Salazar (1-0) faces Twins LHP Andrew Albers (1-0) in a battle of top prospects in the three-game series opener. 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