Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn. Sean Davis Steelers Jersey .ca. Hi Kerry, Always a pleasure; really enjoy your column. Keep up the good work. In the Bruins/Panthers game Tuesday with less than 10 seconds to play, Tim Thomas - clearly frustrated - took a swipe at Soderberg with his stick. He was assessed a two-minute minor for high sticking. I am curious as to why this was not a match penalty and perhaps even a suspendable action. It seems to me had a skater done a similar action, as blatant as it was, it would be deemed as such. I believe this would fall under Rule 60.4, but am not certain. Can you please comment on this play and explain what the ref/linesman saw (or failed to see), to deem it a mere minor high sticking penalty? Thank you (I was trying to work the word qualm in there somewhere, since I know you like it so much)! Dear Anonymous Friend: I have no qualms in telling you that Tim Thomas deserved a match penalty under Rule 60.4 for the one-handed tomahawk swing with his heavy goalie stick paddle to the neck of Bruins forward Carl Soderberg. Regardless of the score or time in the game, or whether the blow was in retaliation for Thomas being contacted on the shoulder by Soderbergs stick inside the blue paint, a match penalty was warranted based solely on the degree of force and especially the location of the blow with the goal stick to the neck of Soderberg. While no apparent injury resulted to Soderberg this was a very dangerous play that should be addressed by the Player Safety Committee. At the very least, a substantial fine should be levied to Tim Thomas even if that Committee does not deem the stick swing to be worthy of a suspension. It is acknowledged in the rules that a goalkeepers unique equipment is not only designed to provide protection and to stop the puck but that when used in an altercation can do considerable damage to an opponent. For that reason, Rule 51.3 provides that a match penalty must be assessed if, in the judgment of the referee, a goalkeeper uses his blocking glove to punch an opponent in the head or face in an attempt to deliberately injure an opponent. The manner in which Tim Thomas used his heavy goalie stick last night falls well within the spirit and intent of the match penalty rule. The reason the referee most likely assessed only a minor penalty on this stick swing was based on his obstructed view from behind the goal line against the end boards. I continually state this not the best location to view plays in and around the goal crease; as a matter of fact it is often the worst position for a referee to stand! I want you to look at the replay clip again; only this time through the eyes of the referee that made the call from behind the goal line. Tim Thomas swing was very quick and accelerated in real-time but most importantly, the ref, from his position, was looking directly through Brian Campbells back as Thomas stick made contact with Soderberg. Campbell then wrestled Soderberg to the ice so both players were now directly in the referees sight line. There was also a minor log jam of players out in front of the net (especially Tom Gilbert and Chris Kelly) that could have prevented the linesmen and the other referee from seeing the full force of Tim Thomas stick blow to Soderbergs neck. As quickly as it can happen, the full effect of a play can be missed or greatly diminished without the best sightline. I have no qualms admitting it, friend! Chukwuma Okorafor Jersey . The outdoor event will be played on Dec. 31 between alumni of the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies. James Washington Jersey . - Mike Zimmer has brought a demanding style to the Minnesota Vikings. http://www.steelersauthoritystore.com/Authentic-Sean-Davis-Steelers-Jersey/ . The Kings paraded the Stanley Cup through downtown Los Angeles on Monday to celebrate their second NHL title in three seasons. LOS ANGELES -- Jordan Lyles got through seven innings on a night when mound opponent Josh Beckett displayed his old All-Star form for eight. Troy Tulowitzki and the rest of the Colorado Rockies did the rest against the Dodgers overworked bullpen. Charlie Blackmon hit an RBI single in the 11th inning and the Rockies got home runs from Tulowitzki and Corey Dickerson to beat Los Angeles 5-4 on Friday. Carlos Gonzalez also had an RBI during the decisive rally. "We look for Tulo and CarGo to lead us. If they dont go anywhere, we dont go anywhere," Lyles said. "So for us to be good we need them to be good. They are proven players and theyre going to give their best effort every day of the week. Talent-wise, it doesnt get much better that that combo." Adam Ottavino took over in the eighth for Lyles as a steady drizzle sent many in the crowd of 44,866 for cover. Ottavino retired the side in order before Boone Logan struck out his first two batters in the ninth -- including Matt Kemp, who was ejected by umpire Angel Hernandez for arguing a called third strike. It was Kemps seventh career ejection and the Dodgers first this season. The drizzle had turned into a downpour by the 10th. Brandon Barnes pinch-hit for reliever Rex Brothers (2-2) with one out in the 11th and doubled against Jamey Wright (1-1). Left-hander J.P. Howell entered to face the lefty-swinging Blackmon, who came in leading the majors with a .410 average. The leadoff hitter grounded a 2-2 pitch up the middle to drive in the go-ahead run after going hitless in his four previous at-bats against Beckett. Nolan Arenado followed with a single that extended his career-best hitting streak to 15 games. The Rockies added another run when first baseman Adrian Gonzalez threw home on a grounder in front of the bag by Carlos Gonzalez and was too late to get Blackmon. Justin Morneau capped the rally with an RBI single against Brandon League. Brothers pitched a hitless inning and LaTroy Hawkins got three outs for his seventh save after giving up a two-run homer to Adrian Gonzalez. Kemp would have been the next batter had he not been tossed. Yasiel Puig also went deep and had an RBI single for the defending NL West champions,, who are 1-5 in extra-inning games. Morgan Burnett Jersey. Beckett allowed two runs and four hits with six strikeouts and no walks, after pitching five scoreless innings in each of his previous two starts. The right-hander, whose first four outings have resulted in no-decisions, hasnt won since beating the Rockies on Sept. 30, 2012, at Los Angeles. "There arent very many easy outs in that lineup, but I got some easier outs on some changeups. That was really the key to keeping them off balance," Beckett said. "Theyre a very good hitting team. Most of their guys usually feel pretty good about themselves, and they should." Beckett was 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA in eight starts last season before sitting out the final five months because of a groin strain and a subsequent bout with thoracic outlet syndrome, a nerve condition that required surgery in July. "I think this was a step in the right direction for me, personally. I wanted to show myself that I could do some things I havent done in a while, like pitching innings," Beckett said. "I mean, I havent been up and down six times in like 400 days. I dont know exactly how many. Thats just a guess." Lyles allowed two runs and six hits, striking out four and walking one. Puig, the second batter Lyles faced, hit the first pitch to centre field for his third home run. Ten of Puigs first 22 big league homers have come on the first pitch. "I dont mind when guys swing early, especially since Im a guy that does a decent job of getting guys to hit the ball on the ground," Lyles said. "I tried to make a good pitch down and away. If I threw a ball, I was fine with it. But I didnt get another chance. I left it over the plate and he put a good swing on it. Hes a strong guy who can put it into the seats." Tulowitzki drove Becketts second pitch of the second inning deep into the left-field pavilion for his fifth of the season. Two batters later, Dickerson hit a first-pitch homer to left-centre. Beckett then retired 17 of his next 18 batters. NOTES: Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (back) threw 56 pitches over five innings in a rehab start for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga against visiting Lancaster, allowing a run and two hits with six strikeouts and a walk. The run came on a leadoff homer in the fifth. Cheap Heat Jerseys Cheap Bucks Jerseys Cheap Timberwolves Jerseys Cheap Pelicans Jerseys Cheap Knicks Jerseys Cheap Thunder Jerseys Cheap Magic Jerseys Cheap 76ers Jerseys Cheap Suns Jerseys Cheap Blazers Jerseys Cheap Sacramento Kings Jerseys Cheap Spurs Jerseys Cheap Raptors Jerseys Cheap Jazz Jerseys Cheap Wizards Jerseys ' ' '