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! Hey Kerry, I have a question that is probably pretty minor regarding all that goes on in the playoffs, but it still confused me. Is there a rule to prevent fighters from getting into it immediately out of the box? I could be wrong but after serving coincidental majors, isnt it a requirement that both guys begin the next shift on the bench to head off any potential silliness? As Evgeni Malkin (in Game 1) came from the box having served his major he took a position at the very next faceoff. Like I said, I thought this was against the rules. Anyway, thanks for reading. Paul Kozyn Hi Paul: No question is ever too minor to ask or to answer. There is no rule that restricts players from participating in the very next shift once they have served major penalties for fighting. As you know players are not allowed out of the penalty box until after the first whistle following the expiration of their coincidental major penalties. What takes place at this point is for the penalty box door attendant to hold the "fighters" in their respective box until the linesmen (one or both) arrive on the scene to keep them separated and if necessary escort them to their players bench. The readiness and intervention by the Linesmen wasnt always standard operating procedure and many times I witnessed players continue the fight as soon as they were released from the penalty box. Once the players started to go at it a second time I made a point of instructing the Linesmen to let the fight go the full distance! My objective in this unwritten procedure was two fold: i) Hoping the protracted slugfest would allow the adversaries to get hostilities for one another fully out of their system; ii) To send a message to other would-be combatants that might want to start something (but not really) should they feel a sense of security through any anticipated quick intervention by the linesmen. Usually the sight of two heavyweights being allowed to slug it out in a three minute round while the zebras stood around the ring restored a calming effect to the game. Whenever players exited the penalty box and immediately restarted the fight I always assessed 10 minute misconduct penalties in addition to their second majors for fighting as a result of continuing the fight. (46.5)By virtue of rule 46.10 if a fight was to break out prior to the drop of the puck during the course of a normal face-off, the altercation shall be penalized as if it occurred during the regular playing time. Back in the day, the three most feared words in hockey by many was when the Ref said to the Linesmen, "Let Em Go!" Also: I received two requests for a clarification on the same rule in the past day from two different sources. Last night Matt Loughlin, an executive with the NJ Devils, passed the question along from one of their fans. This morning, my son Matthew, a fire fighter in London, Ontario passed along the same question from his crew at the fire hall. The question is: "When coincidental minor penalties are called, sometimes the teams play a man short (4 on 4) and sometimes they stay 5 on 5. What determines whether it is 4 on 4 or 5 on 5?" There is only one situation that applies where the teams play 4 on 4 when minor penalties are assessed at the same stoppage of play. It is found in rule 19.1 which states, "When one minor penalty is assessed to one player of each team at the same stoppage in play, these penalties will be served without substitution provided there are no penalties in effect and visible on the clock. Both teams will therefore play four skaters against four skaters for the duration of the minor penalties." The only other penalty to be assessed to allow this situation to exist would be a misconduct penalty in addition to the minor to one or both players at which point the team(s) would place a substitute in the box immediately to serve the minor penalty. When multiple minor penalties are assessed or minor penalties to multiple players from each team the Referee would cancel out as many minor, bench minor or double-minor penalties as possible; which if equal would result in the teams playing 5 on 5. There you have it, one minor penalty to one player of each team at the same stoppage of play where no penalties are being served on the score clock results in 4 on 4 numerical strength! This also applies if Team A player receives a minor penalty at the 8:00 minute mark and following the line changes (power play & penalty killing unit) but prior to the puck drop Team B receives a minor penalty, these two minor penalties are served and the teams will play 4 on 4 as per this rule. The teams are allowed to make additional line changes following Team B receiving the minor penalty. (Theory: penalties assessed at same stoppage of play since 8:00 minutes remains on the game clock.) The resulting face-off would then take place at the nearest face-off dot where the play was stopped to assess the original minor infraction. John Matuszak Raiders Jersey .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Foster Moreau Womens Jersey . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. http://www.footballraidersmall.com/Youth-Art-Shell-Elite-Jersey/ . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. Foster Moreau Raiders Jersey . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Willie Brown Jersey . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. WASHINGTON -- John Tortorella had worried about Sundays game, the first matinee for the Columbus all season. He didnt want the Washington Capitals to get off to a quick start.The Capitals scored on Nicklas Backstroms goal barely three minutes into the game, but the Blue Jackets didnt fold and got a last-minute goal with Backstrom in the penalty box and escaped with their fourth straight win, 3-2 over the angry Capitals. Backstrom was called for high-sticking Nick Foligno with 1:34 remaining, a penalty that the Capitals vehemently disputed.Alexander Wennberg took a pass from Foligno and slammed it past Capitals goalie Braden Holtby with 54 seconds left in the game. The goal was confirmed after a video review.It was the Blue Jackets second power play goal of the game, and Washington coach Barry Trotz didnt like the call that cost his team.If you see the replay, he doesnt really touch him, and his head pops up when (Backstroms) stick is already on the way down. Thats just a little disrespectful to the game, Trotz said. The penalty call was not great for me.Backstrom, who also assisted on Alex Ovechkins ninth goal of the season midway through the second period, didnt think he touched Foligno.Last two minutes you get a penalty thats not a penalty, thats tough, Backstrom said.Columbus has its longest winning streak since they ran off nine straight wins from March 18-April 4, 2015.Sometimes it seemed like they took over the game more and more but we started to play smart and at the end of the game we felt like we played smart and got opportunity to score, Wennberg said. Find a way to win. Its as eeasy as that.ddddddddddddTortorella, who has eliminated morning skates from the Blue Jackets routine, talked to his team about the perils of getting off to a slow start.They score one, but they dont score the two and three where it can really knock you out in an afternoon game like this, really a morning game, he said. That steadied us a little bit.Ovechkins ninth goal of the season gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead, but the Blue Jackets tied it just 14 seconds into the third period on Brandon Dubinskys second goal of the season.Columbus goal by Foligno six minutes into the second period broke Washingtons streak of 15 straight successful penalty kills.Other than the disputed call, Trotz didnt find much to find fault with -- even though it was the Capitals second loss in five days to the Blue Jackets.They played a solid game. We played a solid game. Theres not going to be a lot of mistakes, Trotz said.Game notes Washington was without C Lars Eller and RW T.J. Oshie. Both have upper-body injuries. They were injured in Fridays game against Detroit. . C Paul Carey was recalled from AHL Hershey. . Columbus D Dalton Prout (upper body) missed his third straight game. . D Todd Jones (foot) was out for the sixth straight game. Tortorella says Jones is back practicing with the team, but isnt sure when hell return.UP NEXT:Blue Jackets: Host Colorado on Monday. They play five games in seven nights.Capitals: Continue season-long five-game homestand against St. Louis on Wednesday. ' ' '