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. Kerry, Im sure its been asked a million times but during the Habs game Manny Malhotra was ejected out of the face off in the dying seconds of the first that resulted in the Stars winning the faceoff and scoring. Then as I continue to watch the game, or any NHL game in my life for that matter, the linesmen are ejecting guys out of the dot or waiting longer to drop it. My question: what are these guys looking for to drop the black rubber thing on the ice? John Cobb John: In one word, the linesmen are looking for fairness! They want to conduct a fair drop to ensure that one player doesnt gain a distinct advantage over the other by cheating. With the multitude of face-off markings that are on ice, in addition to the procedure spelled out in Rule 76 (face-offs) it really shouldnt be all that difficult for the centers to stand squarely with their stick on the ice in the shaded area of the dot. It all sounds good in theory but as Dale Hunter once told me, Frase, if you aint cheatin you aint tryin! Manny Malhotra is without a doubt the premier face-off expert in the NHL. I can tell you that Manny is also a real solid citizen and a class act. Those fine qualities, however, do not prevent the Habs player from subscribing to Hunters theory whenever he can get away with it. With 2.5 seconds remaining in the first period and a face-off to the right of Carey Price, Malhotra keyed on Mike Cviks hand once the big linesman presented the black disc in preparation of dropping it. As Honda applied finger pressure to the puck just prior to releasing it, Manny jumped prematurely with a stick swing that eliminated opposing center Jason Spezzas stick before drawing the puck cleanly on his backhand. Malhotra beat Cvik to the draw by exerting contact to his opponent and the linesman had no alternative but to eject the Montreal specialist from the face-off. (Here is a test for you. Hold your thumb and pointer-finger together and apply pressure. The fine muscles in your hand will twitch and your thumb nail will even change color at the tip. That creates the trigger switch for an expert like Manny Malhotra to move on. Each linesman can grip the puck a little differently and demonstrate a tell as to the moment he will drop the puck. Experts like Manny Malhotra study these individual tendencies) Players must adhere to the following guidelines and enforced by the linesmen as per Rule 76.4, which states that when the face-off takes place in any of the end face-off circles, the players taking part shall take their position so that they will stand squarely facing their opponents end of the rink, and clear of the ice markings. The sticks of both players facing-off shall have the blade on the ice, within the designated white area. The visiting player shall place his stick within the designated white area first followed immediately by the home player. It really shouldnt be all that difficult for players to follow those clear instructions. Violations that result in an ejection are: i) One or both centers are not positioned for the face-off, ii) One or both centers refrain from placing their stick on the ice, iii) Any player has encroached into the face-off circle, iv) Any player makes physical contact with an opponent, or v) Any player who lines up for the face-off in an off-side position. A referees best friend is a moving puck. Trust me when I tell you I wanted face-offs to be conducted by the linesmen as quickly and efficiently as humanly possible. I respect their need for maintaining the integrity of an end-zone face-off because, as we saw in this situation, a goal resulted just prior to the horn sounding. Fans get frustrated and frequently blame the linesmen when players are ejected from the face-off circle or it seems to take forever to drop the puck. The last thing any linesman wants is to become the goat when a flawed face-off results in a goal. As much as I respect their position, I have to admit that I stood on the goal line many times and uttered under my breath, just drop the puck! One night in the Joe Lewis Arena, my friend and colleague linesman Dan McCourt was taking forever to drop the puck for an end zone face-off. I finally skated into the face-off circle from my opposite side goal-line position and said to Chief, The artist sitting in the first row just informed me that he has finished your still portrait and its okay for you to drop the puck now. Just open your hand and let gravity take over! You can imagine what linesman Chief Dan McCourt told me to do. I still chuckle how the two centers just about fell over laughing as I skated back to my position. The puck eventually fell and another perfect face-off was conducted. Josh Doctson Jersey . Sociedad remained in sixth place with Villarreal a point behind in seventh, both in Europa League spots and in striking distance of fourth place and the final Champions League berth. Sociedad forward Carlos Vela chipped goalkeeper Jaime Jimenez after receiving an equally exquisite lobbed pass from Ruben Pardo to set him up in the 23rd minute at Anoeta Stadium. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Jersey . Van Slyke drove in a career-high four runs with two homers off struggling left-hander Tony Cingrani, and the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled away to a 6-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night, a rare comfortable win in their pitching-dominated series. http://www.officialwashingtonredskinsfoo...s-jersey-womens. - Jesse Shynkaruk scored a hat trick as the Moose Jaw Warriors snapped a seven-game losing streak with an 8-2 win over the Prince Albert Raiders in Western Hockey League action on Saturday. Quinton Dunbar Jersey . - UFC 178, previously announced for Sept. Sammy Baugh Jersey . -- Canadas Nicole Vandermade won the Four Winds Invitational on Sunday for her first Symetra Tour title, closing with a 4-under 68 for a one-stroke victory.Michael Chopra admits he has unfinished business in the Indian Super League (ISL). The former Newcastle and Sunderland striker played under ex-England goalkeeper David James for the Sachin Tendulkar co-owner Kerala Blasters in the inaugural edition of the ISL in 2014.But Chopra found it difficult to reach peak fitness after going half a season without playing regularly following an ill-fated spell at then-Championship side Blackpool prior to his move to India. He then suffered an ankle injury while training on artificial turf ahead of a match in Kolkata, forcing him to miss half of the season with the Cochin-based Blasters. Chopra in action against Atletico Kolkata in the 2014 ISL final Chopra signed for Scottish side Alloa Athletic in March 2015, leaving a year later after suffering a recurrence of the ankle injury that plagued his stint in India.India is still a place thats very close my heart, the ex-Cardiff and Ipswich striker told Sky Sports.My dads family is from India and I loved it when I went out there. I would love to go back at some point and show them the real Michael Chopra. Chopra (L) mobbed by his Allloa team-mates after scoring a stunning volley against Rangers When I went there the first time I dont think I fully understood what it meant to be there, and I dont think I gave it my best shot.ddddddddddddI thought it would be easier than I expected and it wasnt like that.I feel like I let myself and the club down as well and if I go back next time Ill know what to expect and I will definitely perform to the best of my ability.The 32-year-old, who has also had loan spells with Watford, Nottingham Forest and Barnsley during his 14-year professional career to date, is stepping up his training regime in a bid to come back stronger next season.Im recovering from an operation I had six or seven weeks ago which stemmed from an injury I had playing for Alloa in December, Chopra said. I couldnt really play football again until I had a couple of bones removed from my ankle, so I got them removed and I am on the mend now.Im confident I can recover and come back in much better shape because when I went to India for the first edition of the Indian Super League I injured the same ankle and the surgeon told me it hasnt been the same since.But he has now cleared everything up in my ankle and says I will be able to move around a lot better on a football pitch which is a good thing. I am going to come back firing. 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