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, In the third period of last nights game between the Sharks and Ducks, San Joses John Scott left the bench to fight Anaheims Tim Jackman. Scott got 10 minutes for instigating and was ejected. Now Bob McKenzie tweets that Player Safety will review this under Rule 70.2 but it does not mean that Scott will get an automatic 10-game suspension. Why wouldnt this be the case? Jeffrey Grimes, Ancaster, ON Jeffrey: Let me clarify the specific rules that come into play when a player is deemed guilty of leaving the players bench for the purpose of starting an altercation. Rule 70.1 states that no player may leave the players or penalty bench at any time during an altercation or for the purpose of starting an altercation. The first or second player from either or both teams who leaves the players or penalty bench under this rule is to be assessed a game misconduct penalty (70.6). Additionally, (70.10) the first player from either or both teams to leave the players or penalty bench illegally is to be suspended without pay for the next ten (10) games; the second player from either or both teams shall be suspended for the next five (5) games. The team(s) shall be fined ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for the first instance and increased by five thousand ($5,000) for each subsequent occurrence over the next following three year period. All players, as well as the first and second players who leave the bench illegally shall be subjected to an automatic fine in the amount equal to the maximum permitted under the collective bargaining agreement. The Coach(es) of the team(s) whose player(s) left the players bench(es) illegally during an altercation shall be suspended, pending a review by the Commissioner and fined a maximum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000). For all suspensions imposed on players under this rule, the Club shall pay to the League a sum equal to the pro-rata of that players salary covered by the suspension (Players salary divided by number of days in the regular season multiplied by number of games suspended). I provide you with all these potential consequences once a player(s) deemed in violation of Rule 70 is so that you fully appreciated the severity of the punishment that can be doled out. Rule 70.2, however provides a caveat (or escape clause if you will) which provides for a player who has entered the game while play is in progress from his own players bench or legally from the penalty bench (penalty time has expired) who starts an altercation may be subject to discipline in accordance with Rule 28 (Supplementary Discipline). That could include additional fines and/or suspensions for any offense committed during the course of the game, whether or not the offense was penalized by the Referee. Even though Captain Obvious would tell you that John Scott came onto the ice for the clear purpose of starting an altercation with Tim Jackman, in retribution for Jackmans prior assault on Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Scott entered the game by virtue of a legal line change for teammate Matt Nieto. The fact that Scott was legally entitled to be on the ice pretty much exempts him from the 10-game suspension. There are a number of precedents set in similar or even more obvious player attacks from the bench. Craig Berube, current coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, once came onto the ice with play in progress on a legal line change but forgot his gloves and stick on the players bench! With play moving up ice in the opposite direction Chief went against the flow and attacked an opponent that had just delivered a questionable hit on one of Berubes teammates. Referee Bill McCreary assessed the game misconduct which carried the automatic 10 game suspension for leaving the players bench for the purpose of starting an altercation. The penalty and suspension was subsequently rescinded because it was determined that Berube was entitled to be on the ice by virtue of a legal line change. I also recall seeing Chris Pronger, as a member of the St. Louis Blues at the time, jump off his players bench without his gloves and pound an opponent into submission who was involved in a confrontation with another Blues player directly in front of the bench. A very liberal and generous interpretation of a legal line change was granted to Pronger on the play to escape suspension. Now, as a new member of the Player Safety Committee, perhaps Chris will call upon his firsthand experience in assessing John Scotts actions in the game last night? Rule 28 was invoked to suspend Ryan Clowe for two games when he came onto the ice and started an altercation but I dont see that happening for John Scotts actions. Scott didnt sucker punch or blatantly attack Jackman. Instead Scott followed somewhat similar rules of engagement that Jackman initiated against the big Shark player in their fight just two minutes and 16 seconds into the game. 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Reggie White Womens Jersey . -- The court fight over NFL concussions should heat up soon as a judge in Philadelphia weighs the fairness of the proposed $765 million settlement.ST. LOUIS -- Lance Lynn threw a five-hit shutout in his first career complete game and the St. Louis Cardinals got home runs from Allen Craig and Matt Holliday in a 6-0 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night. Holliday and Matt Adams had three hits and an RBI apiece and Craig drove in two runs. The Cardinals have won 10 of 13, shaking off a 12-inning loss in the series opener, and ended the Yankees three-game road winning streak that matched their best of the year. David Phelps (1-2) pitched in his hometown for the first time and allowed three earned runs in six innings. Two infield errors contributed to two unearned runs in the Cardinals breakout four-run third. Derek Jeter got a standing ovation before each at-bat, just like in the opener. He was 0 for 3 with a walk. Adams leads the National League with 22 multi-hit games, Holliday has reached safely in all 23 home games and Craig has a team-high 15 RBIs this month. Lynn (6-2) struck out two and walked three, topping his previous career best of eight innings on April 25, 2012 at Chicago against the Cubs. He retired the side in order for the third time in the ninth inning, finishing with 126 pitches. The Yankees were shut out for just the second time, going 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position and stranding two runners twice. The Cardinals batted around in the third with Adams double the lone run-producing hit. Craig reached on a bases-loaded RBI groundoout when first baseman Kelly Johnson gloved an offline throw from Jeter but then lost the ball attempting a sweeping tag, and two runs scored on Jhonny Peraltas grounder that scooted under second baseman Brian Roberts glove.dddddddddddd Craigs fifth homer ticked off right fielder Alfonso Sorianos glove at the wall in the fifth. Holliday greeted reliever Alfredo Aceves with his third of the season leading off the seventh. The Yankees opened with a big play on defence, with centre fielder Jacoby Ellsburys running grab steps from the wall to rob leadoff man Matt Carpenter of extra bases in the first. Adams stretched to full extension keeping his foot on the bag at first on Roberts groundout to end the second. Rookie second baseman Kolten Wong made three nice plays, outrunning Ellsbury to first after fielding a grounder that Adams also chased, turning a smash by Yangervis Solarte into a double play ball in the fourth, and diving to snare Phelps foul pop-up in the fifth. NOTES: Cardinals Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog, recovering from a hip injury, was among those in a sellout crowd of 45,202, the teams 12th of the season. ... Hiroki Kuroda (3-3,4.55) faces Shelby Miller (6-3, 3.18) in the series finale Wednesday. Kuroda is 0-7 in his last 11 road starts since winning at Texas last July 25, the longest drought of his career. Miller is 2-2 with a 5.79 ERA in five career interleague starts. ' ' '