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 was watching the NBC coverage of Sundays Canadiens-Rangers game, and Mike Milbury and Ed Olczyk went off on the Canadiens for over-selling and embellishing to sell calls. In the third period, Carl Hagelin hit Alexei Emelin with a high stick and Emelin went down like a ton of bricks. Embellishment? Probably, but it didnt change the fact that it was a high stick. Did the sell by Emelin negate the high stick and the official basically said, "play on?" Or was this just a missed call? Morgan,New York, NY Morgan: I believe the play that you are referring to occurred with 8:24 remaining in the third period and the score tied at two. Carl Hagelin attempted a dump-in shot from the centre red line. Alexei Emelin lowered his posture to execute an active stick sweep check and contacted the puck as Hegelin was in the act of shooting. Emelin was legitimately struck in the mouth area with the blade of Haglins stick on the follow-through of an attempted shot. Emelins reaction to rotate his body away from the stick contact, then fall and grab his mouth was reasonable and not an effort to embellish and draw a foul. A player is permitted accidental contact on an opponent if committed in a normal windup or follow through of a shooting motion. No penalty was warranted to Hagelin on this play. I concur with Mike Milbury and Eddie Os analysis with regard to obvious embellishment committed by PK Subban and Tomas Plekanec in the second period of Sunday nights game. Even though the stick of Rick Nash did catch Subban in the face the upward launch with both legs was not a natural reaction or fall from being struck in that manner. Plekanecs theatrical performance was the absolute worst when he threw his head back and grabbed at his face after the flat blade of Brian Boyles stick slapped nothing but shoulder pad! Even though Boyles stick did not quite fit the criteria of a "high stick (above the height of the opponents shoulders) it was used in a careless manner and could certainly result in a slashing penalty. Plekanecs embellishment was also worthy of a penalty that should have resulted in an on-ice numerical strength of four aside. Given Plekanecs blatant overreaction it could even been deemed a stand alone embellishment penalty if the ref wanted to send a clear message but I doubt he would receive much support. Power plays and special teams can often be the difference in these games as we have seen. Once the referees are fooled into calling a penalty or fail to respond to efforts of embellishment on a play the floodgates can open up without so much as a splash on the frozen pond. In the first round of these current playoffs there were six diving/embellishment penalties assessed. None were a stand alone diving penalty but deemed to be embellishment that was committed following the initial infraction. The first two embellishment penalties were assessed in Game 2 against Mats Zuccarello and Derek Dorsett of the Rangers in their 4-2 loss to the Flyers. The Rangers management was not impressed with those penalty calls and expressed their displeasure to the series supervisor. I wonder if the Ranger brass is singing the same tune after Sunday night. Since joining TSN in January of 2011 I have stated on numerous occasions the need to clean up the unmanly act of diving. When uncalled, embellishment rewards cheaters. I am often asked how the ref can call both an initial penalty and a dive; isnt it one or the other? In reality, embellishment is most often committed after a player has been legitimately fouled. When that occurs both illegal acts should be penalized. Three years ago I suggested that a double minor penalty be assessed to the diver when he was legitimately fouled and the referee was calling a minor penalty. It would take some guts for the refs to impose a strict standard on a call like this but the game would be better for it. The referees also have to know their calls would receive the full support of management. Until players that embellish are penalized by the referees and held accountable by the League with published fines and suspensions as prescribed in rule 64.3, this illegal act will continue to plague the game. Its time for everyone involved to man-up. Doug Williams Jersey .Martin Caceres marked his return from injury by scoring in the 3-1 win at Napoli and he believes Juventus sent out a warning to the rest of the league with that result.We go out on the pitch every game looking to give our all, Caceres said. 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Anaheim Ducks Reassign D Colby Robak to Norfolk Admirals (AHL). - Team Website D Eric Brewer (foot) removed from injured reserve.St. Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Ryan Reaves and Dmitrij Jaskin scored in a 1:45 span late in the second period to snap a tie and send St. Louis to a 3-2 decision over Chicago in a Central Division clash at Scottrade Center. Jaden Schwartz also lit the lamp and Alex Pietrangelo added a pair of assists for the Blues, who put a two-game skid to rest. Brian Elliott made 22 saves for the hosts. Patrick Sharp registered a goal and assist for the Blackhawks, who have dropped back-to-back one-goal games on the road. Kris Versteeg scored, but Antti Raanta took the loss despite 28 stops. The Blues took the lead for good thanks to one controversial and one conventional tally. First, Maxim Lapierre rushed the Blackhawks crease, with the puck caroming back into the slot where Reaves pushed it forward. Play was blown dead without a definitive call being made, but a lengthy review revealed the puck barely crossing the goal line inside the left post and among a mass of bodies in the crease with 1:51 left in the second. Then, Jaskin followed a loose puck in the high slot from a Pietrangelo offering and ripped it homee for his second career goal at 19:54.dddddddddddd Versteeg pulled Chicago to 3-2 at 2:37 of the third, left alone up the middle to accept a Sharp feed and wrist it past Elliott. That was the only shot of 10 that eluded the Blues netminder in the final period. Chicago went with an extra attacker for the final 1:13 of regulation but failed to net an equalizer. Sharp opened the scoring just 62 seconds after the opening faceoff, during a two-man advantage, when he slammed home a Patrick Kane dish from the left post. Schwartz equalized for the hosts at 12:15, when his harmless poke from the slot managed to slip between Raantas pads. Game Notes The Blues have won nine of 15 meetings at home against Chicago since 2009 ... Blackhawks forward Dan Carcillo left the game with an apparent right leg injury and did not return. Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville said after the game that Carcillo will likely miss 1-to-2 weeks with a right knee issue ... Pietrangelo led all skaters with 25:52 of ice time ... Jaskins only other NHL goal happened against Chicago, on Dec. 28, 2013. ' ' '