ASS News » goal that was verified immediately by the ref

Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry Fraser wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca! Hi Kerry, I am really confused about something that happened in the game between the Flyers and Leafs last night. The Flyers scored a goal that was verified immediately by the ref directly behind the net. He signaled the goal. But the goal was disallowed apparently when the other ref (who was closer to Argentina then he was the play) called it no goal. The replay clearly showed it was a goal, and more importantly, in the net BEFORE the whistle. Now I understand that is not reviewable, but what I dont understand is why the ref behind the net cant just say, "Hey I was right on top of it, its a good goal". The explanation provided by the announcers was something akin to the other ref losing sight of the puck. If that was the case, almost every goal in the NHL could be disallowed by the center ice ref since it is unlikely they would have a very good view of the puck itself from about 100ft away. Thanks. John Berry Hi Kerry, During this game, the Flyers had a goal disallowed when the neutral zone ref blew the play dead on a "hold the post" type play. The question is: why is someone that is about 100 feet away blowing the play dead? The ref that could actually see the play signaled goal. Later in the game, the Leafs scored on a play where the puck was jammed out from underneath the goalies pad, no whistle. There was no way to see the puck from center ice on the Leafs goal, either. Help me understand which game these refs were watching. Brian Mullaney View the play in question here (17:04, 2nd period). John and Brian: While I must admit that we dont often see the back referee kill a play when he deems the goalkeeper has the puck covered, it is well within his authority to do so. Let me explain why I agree with the call made on the ice by referee Dean Morton from his position in the neutral zone. Both of you are only partially correct when you stated that the referee behind the net, Kevin Pollock, was in position to see the play and then signal a goal once the puck entered the net. The overriding fact is that Leafs goalkeeper, Jonathan Bernier, clearly had the puck covered underneath his blocker and held tight against the post a reasonable time for the play to be considered dead. This "reasonable time" frame is demonstrated by the fact that Bernier initially covered the puck when Matt Read, the Flyer who eventually dislodged the puck, was positioned well behind the net near the end boards and had some distance to travel to the post at the side of the net. In fairness to referee Kevin Pollock, he had a considerable distance to travel from the opposite side of the net towards the corner and was unable to see that Bernier had the puck covered. By the time referee Pollock was able to assume a position behind the net, Matt Read had already jammed Berniers blocker with his stick and dislodged the frozen puck. At this point, the referee gained a sightline that allowed him to see the exposed puck which Matt Read knocked into the open corner of the net from the seat of his pants. Even though back referee Dean Morton was a long distance from the net (albeit much closer than Argentina) he had a view from the open side to where Jonathan Bernier froze the puck with his blocker against the post. From this unobstructed view to the goal and with a broad perspective of the play, Morton would have taken a quick look to determine the sightline that his had partner on the other side of the net in that moment. Knowing that Pollock could not possibly see that the puck was covered from his position, referee Mortons radar intensified once he saw an initial attempt by Michael Raffl to jam at Berniers glove with his stick and as Raffl was subsequently knocked to the ice by Leafs defenceman Cody Franson. Knowing that Kevin Pollock had not yet assumed a position to determine the frozen puck, referee Mortons "intent to blow the whistle" would have kicked into high gear once he saw Matt Read jam at Berniers blocker and expose the puck. Mortons whistle to kill the play is audible just as referee Kevin Pollock moves into position behind the net to signal a goal once the puck crossed the line. The correct call was made by back referee Dean Morton to determine that the puck had been frozen by the Leafs goalkeeper prior to Matt Read dislodging it with his stick and then knocking the puck into the net. The correct procedure was also followed to the letter when Morton quickly approached referee Pollock to inform him that the puck had been frozen by Jonathan Bernier. FYI, in an article I wrote on November 28, 2011 I responded to a fan question when Kris Letang of the Penguins dug a frozen puck from underneath the catching glove of Carey Price to score the game winning goal in overtime. The goal line referee was on the opposite side of the net and impossible to detect that Price had the puck covered. My answer in that column was that the back referee near the blue line with an unobstructed view should have blown the play dead prior to or as Kris Letang jammed the puck loose. Click on the link below to see the similarity of these two plays. Fraser: Discussing Letangs goal and Paciorettys hit Stephon Gilmore Jersey . He looked very comfortable Wednesday night. Konerko had a big three-run double and Gordon Beckham homered for the second straight game, leading the Chicago White Sox to an 8-3 victory over the sliding Chicago Cubs. Kevin Faulk Patriots Jersey . Teams one through twenty competing in Englands top flight are each fatally flawed. A wide-open, highly competitive and mistake-filled season has followed. http://www.shoptheofficialpatriots.com/Elite-Steve-Grogan-Patriots-Jersey/ .C. Lions. The clubs former starting quarterback, assistant and head coach returned Thursday as its receivers coach. Tom Brady Womens Jersey . He still wanted out. "It just seemed like the direction they were going didnt fit what I thought my career was going to be," Kesler said. "At the end of the day I want to win a championship and I want to win it now, and four years is a little too long for me. Drew Bledsoe Youth Jersey . -- EJ Manuel followed the worst game of his career with the best.INDIANAPOLIS - Reggie Wayne finally got the postgame party he wanted. The 36-year-old Colts receiver is going back to the playoffs as a division champion.It also means hell get another game in front of his favourite fans.Andrew Luck threw two touchdown passes, Adam Vinatieri made a late field goal and Indianapolis defence shut down Houstons offence Sunday in a 17-10 victory that clinched the AFC South and gave Wayne two franchise records.This never gets old. This feeling never gets old, Wayne said, referring to the division title as he downplayed the milestones. At training camp we made some goals. Taking care of the division was our first goal so we were able to check that one off.Wayne wasnt the only one hooting and hollering after the Colts fourth straight win.Linebacker DQwell Jackson and return specialist Josh Cribbs, longtime Browns, couldnt believe they were finally heading into the post-season for the first time. Jackson was so excited he started toward the showers still wearing his championship hat.Luck, meanwhile, reminded everyone the playoffs cant be taken for granted -- even though hes never missed out in his three NFL seasons.Nobody understands this situation better than Wayne, who has reached the playoffs in 12 of his 14 NFL seasons. Three years ago, many thought his days in Indy numbered after the Colts went 2-14. But Wayne gave Indy a hometown discount and has spent the last three years chasing a second Super Bowl ring and Peyton Mannings records.With 209 career games and 142 career wins, Wayne now holds both records, something that was not lost on teammates or coaches, who sent Wayne back into the game for the final snap.We gave out one game ball and that was to Reggie, coach Chuck Pagano said. Really glad that things worked out, especially for that player. He embodies what we talk about, represents everything that Mr. (Jim) Irsay talks about.Wayne couldnt have done it without some help and he had plenty Sunday.Luck was 18 of 34 for 187 yards, throwing for two second-quarter touchdowns that turned a 7-0 deficit into a 14-7 halftime lead. Daniel Boom Herron ran 11 times for 60 yards including five straight times on the game sealing drive that consumed 5 minutes, 3 seconds. Vinatieri finished it with a 29-yard field goal with 2:11 to go.The defence doominated the short-handed Texans (7-7), too.ddddddddddddAfter deactivating receiver Andre Johnson and tight end Garrett Graham before the game, Houston lost starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick early in the second quarter with a left leg injury. Fitzpatrick was carted off the field with an air cast covering the leg.Coach Bill OBrien would not confirm reports that Fitzpatricks leg was broken.I felt for him because he knew right away that it was injured, OBrien said.Without Fitzpatrick, the Texans turned to rookie Tom Savage. He completed his first NFL pass for a first down, then struggled. Savage finished 10 of 19 for 127 yards with two fumbles and two turnovers.Arian Foster ran 26 times for 99 yards, but the Texans managed only 289 total yards and had their best play of the game -- a 25-yard TD run from Foster on fourth-and-1 -- nullified by a holding call. Houston wound up settling for a 53-yard field goal to make it 14-10 early in the fourth quarter, its only offensive points of the day. Kendrick Lewis returned an interception 27 yards for touchdown to give the Texans a 7-0 lead.Luck tied it with a 26-yard TD pass to Hakeem Nicks early in the second quarter.Then when it looked as if the Colts would blow another scoring chance following Waynes second-quarter fumble, Savage gave it right back on a botched handoff. Three plays later, Luck hooked up with Dwayne Allen on a 3-yard TD pass to take a 14-7 lead.The Colts never trailed again.Right now Im so locked into what weve got going on here as a team and as a brotherhood, Wayne said. Weve got something really special, so hopefully we can continue on the success and stay hot.Notes: Indy is 13-0 all-time at home against the Texans and has won 12 straight over AFC South foes. ... J.J. Watt had seven tackles, two hits and two passes defenced to join former Dolphins star Jason Taylor as the only players since 1991 with 10 sacks and 10 passes defenced in two different seasons. ... Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton left late in the game with a hamstring injury. ... Army Specialist Shanea Cornett surprised her two daughters, her younger sister and her mother when she walked into the south end zone after completing a nine-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '