f in a vulnerable position immediately prior to

The Tampa Bay Lightning made another free agent move Friday, signing veteran forward Brenden Morrow to a one-year deal worth $1.55 million. The 35-year-old spent last season with the St. Louis Blues, recording 13 goals and 25 points in 71 games. Morrow, who was part of Canadas Gold Medal winning team at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, has 262 goals and 567 points in his 14 seasons in the NHL, spent mostly with the Dallas Stars with short stints in Pittsburgh and St. Louis. The Lightning also announced they re-signed forward Phillipe Paradis to a one-year deal. Paradis recorded six goals and 15 points in 56 games with the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL last season. Morgan Rielly Jersey . The Thunder earned the Game 1 win with a 100-86 victory Saturday night. Oklahoma City dominated the first half and led by 22 at the break, but saw its lead shrink to just two points in the fourth quarter. Mitchell Marner Jersey . With nothing tangible at stake, the Raptors turned in their most impressive outing of the fall in their seventh and second to last exhibition tilt against their stiffest competition yet, but they lost a couple starters in the process. http://www.officialmapleleafspro.com/Dou...e-leafs-jersey/. The 31-year-old Russian dominated the No. 3-ranked Ferrer throughout, breaking the defending champion and local favourite four times on the indoor hard court. Lanny McDonald Jersey . Cammalleri scored two goals, Corban Knight netted the winner in a shootout, and the Flames erased a two-goal deficit in the third period to beat the Stars 4-3 on Friday night. Johnny Bower Jersey . -- Kael Mouillierat scored three times and set up one more as the St.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, During Tuesday nights Pens/Caps game, Tom Wilson got a five-minute penalty for charging Brayden Schenn. Nicklas Grossmann then turned and started a fight with Wilson. Despite not having to travel any distance, he clearly threw the first punch, had the gloves off first and fought him as retribution for a previous incident in the game or season, all of which would be grounds for an instigator penalty. Yet none was given. Why wasnt there one given? Thanks,Kyle Reid --- What is your take on the Wilson hit on Schenn from Washington vs. Philadelphia game? Some say 100 per cent clean hit and others say its a suspension! Thanks for reading!Bob Haynes Kyle and Bob: Following the devastating and violent hit that Tom Wilson delivered on Brayden Schenn it was actually Wilson that dropped his gloves first to be at the ready in anticipation of the Flyers cavalry that was guaranteed to charge. Nicklas Grossmann moved toward the Caps player with gloves and stick in hand. Wilsons gloves hit the ice. Even when the two players locked on Grossmanns gloves were still evident on his hands as Wilson attempted to throw some punches from tight quarters. In spite of the fact that Grossmann approached Wilson following the hit (minimal distance travelled) - but more based on Wilsons quick response mentioned above - the Referee appropriately deemed an instigator penalty was not warranted. Bob, this was a 100 per cent illegal hit. Tom Wilson approached Brayden Schenn with excessive speed from a considerable distance which results in a charging violation (Rule 42.1 - Charging shall mean the actions of a player who, as a result of distance travelled, shall violently check an opponent in any manner). Even though Schenn took a peek and simultaneously made a slight turn to avoid the contact, Wilson actually accelerated in the last eight-to-10 feet, rendering the Flyer player virtually defenceless. The accelerated speed and extra finish that Wilson exerted through the hit caused Schenn to crash violently into the end boards with significant impacct to Schenns head.dddddddddddd A boarding violation also occurred on this play (Rule 41.1 - A boarding penalty shall be imposed on any player who checks or pushes a defenseless opponent in such a manner that causes the opponent to hit or impact the boards violently or dangerously. The severity of the penalty, based on the impact with the boards, shall be at the discretion of the Referee). I would hope every referee in the league would exercise their most responsible discretion and deem Schenns impact with the boards as violent and excessive resulting in a major and game misconduct being assessed on this play. Potential suspension - who knows? Rule 41 goes on to say that, "The onus is on the player applying the check to ensure his opponent is not in a defenceless position and if so, he must avoid or minimize contact." Tom Wilson was committed beyond just making the hit, as proven by the acceleration and finish factor on the play. There was no consideration given to avoid Schenn or to slow down and minimize contact. It was full speed ahead! Let me highlight the escape clause in the rule when consideration is given to whether a suspension is warranted on dangerous hits such as this. From Rule 41.1, "However, in the determining whether such contact could have been avoided, the circumstances of the check, including whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the check or whether the check was unavoidable can be considered." Schenn snuck a peek an instant before impact and recognized a missile in the form of Tom Wilson was hunting him down. This caused Schenn to veer slightly or attempt to turn as an avoidance tactic. The Player Safety Committee will give strong consideration to this element of the play in defense of Tom Wilsons actions. At least in this case, the ambiguity written into rule places considerable and undue responsibility on the victim of such a violent hit. Given Schenns location from the boards, the extended distance Tom Wilson travelled and the speed, velocity and force generated by this hit I believe a similar outcome would have occurred regardless of Brayden Schenns minimal attempt to avoid contact. ' ' '