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, Are the referees required to make a call on the ice before going to the replay official? I have noticed a couple of times in recent months where the ref doesnt seem to make any call at all, and then goes upstairs. I was under the impression the referee had to gesture good goal/no goal before confirming via replay. A great recent example is from the Montreal Canadiens/Columbus Blue Jackets game on Wednesday. Brendan Gallagher tipped a puck that was very close to crossing the line. In a replay, you can see the referee gesture towards the net as it appeared he was beginning to signal a goal - but then stopped and made no signal. After an inconclusive review, it was called a no goal. What is the correct procedure for making a call on the ice, and is referee hesitation to make a call a potential problem with our current state of review technology? Thanks, Scott Scott, Referees are required to make a decision (goal or no goal) prior to communicating with the Situation Room in Toronto. It is certainly most desirable if the referee closest to the play has a good look and is decisive. However, if the ref on the goal-line demonstrates uncertainty by not making a clear signal, the crew of officials should and will gather for a conference at the timekeepers bench to make a collective decision. Once a decision has been reached, the referee that was responsible for making the initial call is handed the headset. The first words he will communicate to Toronto are, We have a good goal (or no goal) on the ice. At that point, the play is turned over to Video Review to render a decision through conclusive video evidence. If they are unable to do so, the call is returned to the officials on the ice and their decision will stand. On the Brendan Gallagher tip, the referee most likely flinched in anticipation of the puck entering the goal. The ref was less likely to determine if the puck crossed the line as a result of his distant sightline while moving toward the net from the deep corner. The Situation Room did in fact return a conclusive verdict that the puck did not completely cross the goal-line. Based on the replays shown on the Situation Room blog, I completely concur with this decision. MTL @ CBJ - 14:59 of the First Period Wednesday, 01.14.2015 / 7:49 PM 2014-2015 Situation Room blog What this play does highlight, Scott, is not so much a problem with our current state of reviewing technology but moreso the need for better coaching and monitoring of the officials relative to their positioning philosophy. On this play, the referee was frozen in the corner too long after the turnover up near the blue line and a cycle distributed the puck quickly to the net from the hash mark off the stick of Tomas Plekanec. As a result of some puck watching (focus on Plekanec), the referee picked up the fact that Gallagher was a primary outlet too late as the Montreal sparkplug attacked the net for the redirect. If the referee had been aware of Gallaghers location on the ice, he would have moved off the wall and drove to the net the instant the puck left Plekanecs stick. While there is no guarantee that the referee could have seen if the puck crossed the line due to a potentially obstructed view created by Sergei Bobrovskys pads, the closer proximity to the net would likely have resulted in not only a better viewing location but a more definitive signal. A referees bread and butter is being at the net on close plays. A better job is needed to bring some of the current crop to the table. 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Hernandez (3-0) struck out 11 and shut down Oakland for the second time in a week, becoming the first Mariners pitcher to win three times in the first nine games of a season. With the usual "Kings Court" for Hernandez home starts expanded to a "Supreme Court" encompassing the entire stadium with yellow shirts and "K" cards, Hernandez gave up four hits in the 28th double-digit strikeout game of his career. Harry Winks Jersey . The team said they will announce a corresponding roster move prior to their series opener on Tuesday night in Kansas City.ARLINGTON, Texas -- Rick Porcello went to his normal spot on the Detroit Tigers bench after the eighth inning. He had every intention to finish what he started. With a few pitches to spare, Porcello got his first career shutout, a 6-0 three-hitter over the sinking Texas Rangers on Thursday night for Detroits seventh consecutive victory. "This is extremely special to me," Porcello said. Porcello (10-4) threw 105 pitches through eight innings. With relievers moving around in the bullpen, manager Brad Ausmus and pitching coach Jeff Jones discussed what to do with the right-hander, who did his best to avoid eye contact and then needed only 10 pitches in the ninth to get three groundball outs. "You just worry about the pitch count. We dont want him going much above 115, maybe top out at 120," Ausmus said. "A 15-pitch inning is a good inning, so its kind of a tall task to ask him to get through the inning, but he was able to do it." Porcello limited the Rangers to three singles and benefited from three 4-6-3 double plays (second baseman Ian Kinsler to shortstop Eugenio Sanchez to first baseman Miguel Cabrera), including one after Texas had consecutive hits in the sixth. "The ability to get two outs with one pitch is huge. I was able to execute those sinkers," Porcello said. "Without those guys, I dont know that I would have been able to go nine." The right-hander struck out six and walked three, throwing 72 of his season-high 115 pitches for strikes. It was only the second complete game for Porcello in 164 major league starts -- all for the Tigers since 2009, and he has won at least 10 games in each of his six seasons. Miguel Cabrera had four hits and Austin Jackson hit a two-run single for the AL Central leaders, who completed a three-game sweep. While the Tigers have the longest winning streak in the majors, Texas has the longest losing streak at eight in a row. The Rangers, who last lost eight in a row in August 2005, are 1-6-1 their last eight series overall and 16-22 at home. "We know were a way better team than the way were playing right now," said shortstop Elvis&nnbsp;Andrus, who grounded into that double play in the sixth.dddddddddddd. "Hes got a pretty good sinker. We all knew that. He made the right pitch at the right moment." 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