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. Hi Kerry, I just watched the finish to the Jets-Blues game on Monday night and saw the brouhaha between both teams after the final horn went off. The breakdown of penalties was as such: 19:59 Winnipeg - Olli Jokinen: 10 minutes, misconduct19:59 Winnipeg - Olli Jokinen: 2 minutes, roughing19:59 Winnipeg - Jacob Trouba: 10 minutes, misconduct19:59 Winnipeg - Dustin Byfuglien: 2 minutes, roughing19:59 Winnipeg - Dustin Byfuglien: 10 minutes, misconduct19:59 Winnipeg - Dustin Byfuglien: 2 minutes, roughing19:59 Winnipeg - Blake Wheeler: 10 minutes, misconduct19:59 Winnipeg - Blake Wheeler: 5 minutes, fighting19:59 St. Louis - Roman Polak: 10 minutes, misconduct19:59 St. Louis - Maxim Lapierre: 10 minutes, misconduct19:59 St. Louis - Maxim Lapierre: 2 minutes, roughing19:59 St. Louis - Ryan Reaves: 10 minutes, misconduct19:59 St. Louis - Ryan Reaves: 2 minutes, roughing19:59 St. Louis - Barret Jackman: 10 minutes, misconduct19:59 St. Louis - Barret Jackman: 5 minutes, fighting Kerry, the game was officially over and done with - why were penalties still assessed? Why not just break the two sides up and call it a night? Just wondering. Brian Nicholson,Edmonton Brian: The referees job is to impose penalties for violations of the rules whenever they occur throughout the course of a game; including after time has expired on the game clock signaling the end of the match. The authority empowered to the referees over the game participants do not end until all players and coaches have left the ice and are safely in their respective dressing rooms. The scrums and ultimate fighting that began in the dying seconds of the game and continued well after the final horn was part of the game and could not be ignored by the game officials. They could not turn a blind eye to it and say it never existed. Even though the game was effectively over, the officials must continue to police the game participants. The job is never done until the paper work has been completed! An automatic fine of $100 is incurred to a player assessed a misconduct penalty (rule 22.5). Failure by players to clear the area of a fight shall, in addition to the other penalties that may be assessed, result in a fine to the team of $1,000 and the coach of said team in the amount of $1,000 (46.18). Rule 31.9 (viii) states that the Referee shall report to the Commissioner promptly and in detail the circumstances surrounding any unusual occurrence that takes place on or off the ice, before, during or after the game. Should rule 28 supplementary discipline be invoked, it does not bode well for the Officials if penalties were not assessed following a major altercation even though the rule stipulates additional fines and suspensions can be imposed whether or not such offense has been penalized by the Referee. It is also important to note that a whistle was blown to halt play as a result of the altercation and prior to Chris Porter depositing the puck in the Jets unattended net with .01 seconds on the game clock. As a result of the whistle stopping play the goal was not allowed to stand. A "ceremonial face-off" is no longer required to complete the game when player aggression such as this takes place just prior to final horn. Only after breaking up the two sides and imposing the appropriate penalties Brian, are the officials authorized to "just call it a night!" Cheap Air Max 90 Womens . Kerr said he had dinner with Jackson, his former coach with Chicago and the new Knicks team president, on Friday night and they talked again Saturday. Kerr is in New York to work the game between the Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors for TNT. Wholesale Air Max China . -- LeGarrette Blount wasnt satisfied with three short touchdown runs, not against a team coming off the second greatest comeback in playoff history. http://www.airmaxsneakersonsale.com/chea...max-95.html.com) - The Toronto Raptors are paying Rudy Gay a visit on Wednesday night when they head into the Sleep Train Arena to take on the Sacramento Kings. Cheap Air Max 90 Wholesale . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. Getting Creative The Pittsburgh Penguins will try their best to acquire Ryan Kesler from the Vancouver Canucks before the Trade Deadline. Cheap Air Max 200 Mens .Y. - Geno Smith shouted a couple of mighty expensive expletives. TORONTO -- All the stars have arrived. Now the work can really begin. Jermain Defoe practised with Toronto FC for the first time Monday, and declared himself "100 per cent" healthy and keen to start when the club opens its Major League Soccer season on Saturday in Seattle. "Its been a long time talking about it and stuff, so to actually get over (to Canada) and put my boots on and start playing, training. . . its good," Defoe said. "It feels good. Obviously a little bit strange when you first come in, but the lads have been fantastic. Good training session. I feel sharp. So yeah, happy." The 31-year-old striker had been battling a nagging hamstring injury, and didnt play in what would have been his farewell game for Tottenham Hotspur on Feb. 27 at White Hart Lane. Toronto coach Ryan Nelsen said hell wait and see how quickly Defoe adapts to his new teammates this week before deciding if he will start. "Hopefully," Nelsen said. "Weve obviously got to get him up to speed with everything, but if hes fit and raring to go it will be hard to turn down a player of that quality." Some two dozen journalists turned out to Torontos training ground just north of the city to watch the clubs biggest star practise. At one end of the pitch, the five-foot-six striker in electric-blue cleats took turns with Andrew Wiedeman and fellow newcomer Michael Bradley firing shots on Torontos goalkeepers. Defoe shook hands with his teammates, he applauded their efforts. He then dropped to the pitch for a series of crunches, and was the last player off the field. Nelsen practically scoffed when asked how Defoe did. "He was awful. Hes done," the coach said, prompting much laughter. "Again, he came in on Saturday, so we just have to be careful, just with the artificial field and a flight," Nelsen added. "Hes still got that goofy smile, and still enjoys it in the back of the net. Thats all Im worried about." Defoe missed Torontos off-season due to commitments to Tottenham and England. He was the last player to arrive among a group of key off-season acquisitions that included American Michael Bradley, Brazilians Gilberto and Julio Cesar, and Dwayne De Rosario, whos back in Toronto after three seasons with New York Red Bulls and D.C. United. "To see (Defoe) in the locker-room this morning, now its like, alright we can start now," Bradley said. Gilberto, who has been slowed by a quadricep injury, believes it wont take long to develop chemistry with the England striker. "Now that everybody is here, were able to connect, get the chemistry working together as a team, and hopefully within the week well be ready to go," Gilberto said through an interpreter. "I think the chemistry will work right away, Toronto has got no time to wait." Defoe left Spurs with 143 goals to his credit, behind only Cliff Jones (159), Martin Chivers (174), Bobby Smith (208) and the legendary Jimmy Greaves (266) in the club record book. He was sidelined by the hamstring injury when he said his farewell to the fans at White Hart Lane late last month during halftime of a Europa League match against FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. Defoe was on the bench for Englands friendly against Denmark last Wednesday at Wembley but didnt get a chance to earn a 56th cap in the 1-0 win over Denmark. He said "obviously" it would help if he had participated in Torontos pre-season, but added that "hopefully in training they will understand how I play, and vice versa, and it will be OK." Defoe was asked if he had concerns about playing on the artificial turf Saturday in Seattle, and he said that even praactising on artificial turf might take some getting used to.dddddddddddd Torontos indoor training is on turf, and with no warm weather in sight, it remains to be seen when the team can head outdoors to the pristine grass practice pitches. "Obviously its not something Im used to, to be honest, and even training today, it was the first time in years where Ive actually trained on this kind of surface," Defoe said. "But again, I suppose its something youre going to have to get used to. And you cant really make excuses because its the same for both teams. Same for all the players. Its something you get used to, I suppose its just part and parcel to travelling away and playing on these kind of pitches." Nelsen said the artificial pitch at Seattles CenturyLink Field may determine who plays and for how long on Saturday. "You get the travel, and then you get, not just an artificial field, its a bad artificial field. Its not like this one," Nelsen said. "Its like playing one-and-a-half. . .one-and-three-quarter games in terms of damage to your body. So weve got guys who are healthy but just dont have that hardness of fitness under them, which is a concern." This past Saturday, New York held Thierry Henry and Jamison Olave out of the Red Bulls opener versus the Whitecaps on the turf in Vancouver. Nelsen cautioned it may take some time for the newcomers to develop on-field chemistry, but pointed out the pedigree of his players will help hasten the process. "Theres no magical formula, its not like switching on a light," the coach said. "But when youve got good guys, good character, and good winning mentality, they want to learn. And everybody knows their roles. The right back on this team knows what the strikers are doing, and vice versa. So when everybody knows everybodys jobs it comes quicker." Defoe said he has no concerns about getting to know his new teammates. "Obviously its important around the training ground trying to get to know each individual and how they play," he said. "But I suppose off the pitch is important, getting to know your teammates, because you become a family. So I think thats important, but thats obviously thats something Ill do around the training ground." After the flurry of off-season signings, Defoe and Nelsen shoulder lofty expectations from fans and a front office gunning for the teams first playoff appearance. "The way I deal with it is, weve got a great bunch of guys, theyre all hardworking, they all want to win, well be very well-organized, and weve got players that can turn games," Nelsen said. "So do I worry at night when I go to bed? No, of course not. Its because of those reasons. Youre either going to win and youre going to lose, but what I can tell is all the variables and all the stuff that happens amongst a team Im really happy with. So I can sleep at night very, very well." Defoe, who has scored 19 goals for England, is also hoping to earn a spot in Roy Hodgsons World Cup squad. His competition includes Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck of Manchester United, Daniel Sturridge of Liverpool, Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez of Southampton and Andy Carroll of West Ham. "Obviously its at the back of my mind, but first and foremost its important to concentrate on your club, and make sure your form is good," Defoe said. "As a forward you get judged on scoring goals. I think thats on my mind first and foremost, and then well see what happens with World Cup." England has three friendlies left before the World Cup -- Peru at Wembley on May 30 before games in Miami against Ecuador and Honduras ' ' '