etting the ball back.We didnt respond as well as we needed to when we were on offence,

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, Welcome back! Im sure you heard Peter Forsbergs comments last week regarding Canadian referees in the gold medal game. Seems to me that he was questioning the integrity and impartiality.Did you think there was anything peculiar about this decision? Thanks,Ed Hi Ed: I am thrilled that NHL hockey is back and we can all adjust our watches back to the North American time zone! Initially, I was surprised by the expletive-deleted comments Peter Forsberg made the day before the Gold Medal game and following the IIHFs selection of four North American NHL officials to work the Canada-Sweden game. Even though the officials nationality and residency slanted exclusively toward Canadian soil, the timing of Forsbergs comments (the day before the puck was dropped) caused me to pause and consider the Swedish general managers motives. Ive seen plenty of "gamesmanship" from general managers and coaches during Stanley Cup playoffs and finals, but Peter Forsbergs public comments rank up near the top of the list in attempting to gain an advantage and competitive edge. Peter was not only a world class player but I also know him to be a very intense competitor. That being said, Peter is not a stupid man and made a calculated move in hopes of gaining some advantage for his players against a highly skilled Canadian team. I believe Peters comments were designed to put the IIHF on notice in the event he felt the need to complain post-game but most importantly to plant a seed in the head of each game official hoping his team might receive the benefit of the doubt when one could be offered. It also became a story the day before the game designed to deflect some of the pressure away from Team Sweden players. I dont believe that Peter Forsberg would honestly question the integrity and impartiality of the NHL Officials that were assigned to work the game. Kelly Sutherland, Brad Meir, Derek Amell and Greg Devorski were selected on the merit of their work during the Olympics and were regarded as the very best! They are professionals in the true sense of the word. The players have more confidence in the NHL officials ability than their International counterparts. Swedish team captain Niklas Kronwall of the Detroit Red Wings believed that both teams would benefit from North American officials when he was quoted as saying, "We are used to having referees from USA and Canada in the NHL. We know their standards so I think its easier for us too if the referees are from there." And teammate Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators agreed. Prior to 1998, the IIHF would not assign an official to work a game in which his country of nationality was participating in. Only neutral officials were assigned. That changed in Nagano with the inclusion of NHL players and officials. The best officials were assigned to the games regardless of their country of nationality or residency. In response to Peter Forsbergs comments, IIHF officiating manager Konstantin Komisarov issued the following statement on the selection process; "The main factor of the selection of these officials has most of all to do with their experience officiating in high-level competitions. These include Stanley Cup playoffs, World Championship competitions and Olympic competitions. Their nationalities arent considered as factors nor should they be, we want the best officials working the medal games. We are fully confident that with their experience and professionalism these officials will do their job well and preserve the integrity of the game." Good for Konstantin Komissarov and the IIHF officiating committee for selecting the best officials to work the Gold Medal game. The officiating crew did an outstanding job and preserved the integrity of the game as Konstantin was confident they would. Last Sunday, the game was played on Olympic ice in Sochi and not in the media. Peter Forsbergs silver medal-winning Swedish team was beaten fair and square by Canada to take Gold. The officiating was a complete non-factor; regardless of county of nationality. NHL officials are clearly the best in the world. Vans Shoes Discount . Ted Ligety, Mikaela Shiffrin, Bode Miller and Tim Jitloff underlined the squads enormous potential on the Rettenbach glacier in Austria. Vans Shoes Australia Sale .Y. -- Mark Steenhuis scored four goals and added two assists to lead the Buffalo Bandits over the Toronto Rock 12-10 in National Lacrosse League action on Saturday. http://www.cheapvansaustralia.com/ . -- Jay Haas and Peter Jacobsen took the second-round lead Saturday in the Champions Tours Legends of Golf, teaming for a 6-under 48 in windy conditions on the par-3 Top of the Rock course. Cheap Vans Shoes Australia . -- Brendan Leipsic had two goals and an assist and Nicolas Petan extended his point streak to 11 games as the Portland Winterhawks slipped past the Red Deer Rebels 5-4 on Saturday in Western Hockey League action. Cheap Vans Australia . Off-Season Game Plan looks at the Capitals possible summer plans, with the understanding that its tough to plot a direction without a general manager or head coach around which to set those expectations.ARLINGTON, Texas - Maybe being on the road for three of their last four games will be good for Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys.Except they have to go to Philadelphia in about 2 1/2 weeks.The Eagles dominated in their first Thanksgiving Day game against Dallas in 25 years, with LeSean McCoy running for 159 yards and a touchdown in a 33-10 victory Thursday that began as a matchup of NFC East co-leaders.Dallas (8-4) lost its third consecutive home game, and all of its losses this season have been inside team owner Jerry Jones $1.2 billion showplace stadium.Im disappointed because this was a great day ... we had a great Thanksgiving Day crowd, the stage was set, Jones said. But whats different about standing here last year (when) we were beaten by Philadelphia and our playoff opportunities were gone, is weve got another chance to play them, and we have other games.Romo looked ragged in the first quick turnaround for his surgically repaired back, completing 18 of 29 passes for 199 yards with two interceptions. He was sacked four times, and didnt throw a touchdown for the first time in 39 games.They made things a little bit tougher. I missed a couple of throws that I normally wont miss, Romo said. They pushed the pocket and did things that make things a little bit more challenging.The Eagles (9-3) opened with quick drives of 80 and 88 yards for touchdowns. They took sole possession of the division lead with four games remaining, including the rematch Dec. 14.Were not into statements, Eagles coach Chip Kelly said. Weve given ourselves the opportunity to play meaningful football in December, and in this league, every week is a whole different deal, a whole different animal.McCoy had his fourth 100-yard game in the past seven after going without one the first five weeks and secured his fourth 1,000-yard season since 2010. He averaged 6.4 yards on 25 carries on the same field where he clinched the rushing title last season while the Eagles beat the Cowboys in a playoffs-or-bust finale.This really felt like last year, McCoy said. It really did.Although his deficit to Dallas DeMarco Murray in the rushing race this year is probably insurmountable, McCoy outgained Murray, who was held under 100 yards for just the second time this season.Murrray finished with 73 yards and Dallas only touchdown on 20 carries, the last a 6-yard loss when he was dropped by Mychal Kendricks on fourth-and-1 early in the fourth quarter.ddddddddddddurray had room to run at times but couldnt break one longer than 9 yards. Romo had plenty of time to throw most of the day, but one time in the first half tossed a third-down pass to nobody in particular.The 34-year-old quarterback essentially sat down in the pocket with nobody in position to sack him on a third-down play after Jeremy Mincey recovered McCoys fumble at the Philadelphia 13 on the second play of the second half.The Cowboys had to settle for a field goal, and Philadelphia answered immediately on McCoys 38-yard scoring run, putting the Eagles up 30-10.What followed was a Dallas drive doomed from the start, with Romo sacked on the first play before a 1-yard completion. There was a reprieve when a defensive holding call wiped out an interception on a bad throw, but Romo later had consecutive incompletions before Cary Williams picked off one that stood.McCoy appeared to fumble again inside the 20 on the next Eagles drive. But the call was reversed on replay review, and Cody Parkey kicked his fourth field goal a few plays later.Parkey had two field goals in the final 1:35 of the first half for a 20-7 lead. The later came after Dallas had used all three of its timeouts to preserve time, only for Cole Beasley to fumble after a short catch on the first play after getting the ball back.We didnt respond as well as we needed to when we were on offence, coach Jason Garrett said. For them to make stops when theyre having success offensively, we were never able to kind of keep ourselves in this game and certainly thats a disappointment.Notes: The only remaining home game for Dallas is Dec. 21 against AFC South-leading Indianapolis. ... Philadelphia had 464 total yards, the most against Dallas this season. ... Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent was inactive for the second time since the end of a 10-game suspension for his intoxication manslaughter conviction. He hasnt played since Dec. 2, 2012, six days before the drunken-driving crash that killed teammate Jerry Brown.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '