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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! Mr. Fraser, I read somewhere that NHL referees have their own Playoffs, in which the best from first round are selected to work on second round and so on. How the NHL chooses who will get playoff time? Thanks for your answer,Patrick Arseneau, Sherbrooke Patrick, The NHL officiating department, under the direction of former referee and colleague Terry Gregson, conducts an internal evaluation and rating system throughout the regular season and Stanley Cup playoffs. Terrys supervisory staff attend games during the season and provide computer-generated reports on each officials performance. His staff includes former NHL officials such as Bill McCreary, Don Koharski, Mick McGeough, Rob Shick and Kevin Collins, who supervise NHL games. Areas of skating, positioning, penalty selection, communication and comportment, game control, team work and face-offs (linesmen) are graded. General comments would be included on the bottom of the form as to how the official performed throughout the game and if anything of consequence was observed, positive and/or negative. The hockey operations department (situation room staff in Toronto) under the direction of Colin Campbell and Mike Murphy, records calls or non-calls that also flag an officials performance. Footage of documented plays is assembled for Gregson to review the following day. Prior to the end of the regular season, a numerical ranking from top to bottom is assigned to each referee and linesman to determine playoff selection. An officiating manager/supervisor is assigned to each playoff series from either the officiating department or hockey operations (Kris King, Kay Whitmore) while Gregson floats from series to series. The series supervisor conducts game-day meetings with the officiating crew and acts as a liaison for team management and any concerns they might feel they need to express. The game-day meeting should not only provide the officials with an update on the previous games but to maintain a level of consistency in the way the games are called throughout the series, right through and including Game 7, if necessary. Part of the supervisors duties include evaluating the performance of each official that works in his series. At the conclusion of each round, the deck is shuffled once again and the higher-rated officials move on. The officials are advised in a group e-mail as to whether they made the cut. If the referee or linesmans name appears in the e-mail list, then he knows he made the next round and assignments will be forthcoming. No name on the list means you can begin planning your vacation immediately. Once an officials season is over, he is given the opportunity for an exit meeting or year-end review. In some cases, a face-to-face meeting isnt optional. Referees and linesmen are paired at the beginning of each playoff round. The first five games are assigned in each series utilizing this pairing system. If a sixth or seventh game is required, the pairings might be split up to utilize the higher ranked officials, depending upon how many series go the distance and how individual officials performed throughout the round. In deciding games (and particularly Game 7s), I often found that players recognized the importance for them to remain disciplined and not take a bad penalty. That only worked if they knew, or at least thought, that the referee didnt leave his whistle in the dressing room and would call infractions that were committed! I couldnt buy into the statement, "Let em play" because what it really means is "Let em cheat!" If, and when, players take liberties and violate the rules they must be penalized for their actions, whether it is in Game 1 or Game 7 of a series. An official can get on a good playoff run similar to a team that advances with a combination of good work and some luck. It is very unlikely, however that an official would jump two categories from their final regular season ranking in the playoffs. There is much at stake aside from the pride of being selected to continue to work in the playoffs. Officials are paid a bonus for every round of the playoffs they are selected to work. Referees make $18,000 per round while linesmen receive $12,000. Any rating system can be subjective in nature and to say politics dont play a part would be misstating the facts. Players, coaches, general managers and fans certainly get upset with the officials for what they deem to be poor performance levels. Certainly there is always room for improvement. To put things in perspective, I had the good fortune to work the first round from the TSN studio with Paul Maurice, who coached in the KHL last season and GM Craig Button, who is no stranger to international competition and scouting. Both of them echoed my belief that the NHL officials are the best in the world at what they do! These two gentlemen have a much broader sense of appreciation for the officials, having seen and been subjected to the alternatives. Cheap Custom Maple Leafs Jersey . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. Wholesale Custom Maple Leafs Shirts . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. http://www.custommapleleafsjersey.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Authentic Custom Maple Leafs Jersey . 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DETROIT -- The Detroit Lions and Tennessee Titans have familiar looks.Detroit opened with a 39-35 victory at Indianapolis, its seventh win in nine games dating to last year.The Titans, meanwhile, started the season with a loss at home to Minnesota for their fifth straight setback since last December.The Lions seem to have a shot at extending their successful stretch against Tennessee on Sunday in their home opener.Matthew Stafford has simply been sensational since midway through last season, finding a groove with offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter. Stafford has thrown 22 touchdown passes and two interceptions in his last nine games as Cooter has coached him to get rid of the ball quicker in the passing game.I think its a whole sort of offensive philosophy, Cooter said. Were getting it to our best players, doing what they do best.The Lions lost their best player, Calvin Johnson, in the offseason to retirement. That has forced Stafford to spread the ball more, and it worked well in Week 1. Detroit had three receivers, two running backs and a tight end making at least three catches against the Colts.The show must go on, receiver Golden Tate said. So, we dont get caught up worrying about who we dont have. We just try to step up our game individually.Marcus Mariota, meanwhile, took a step back in last weeks game with a fumble and an interception in the second half that helped Minnesota win 25-16 after trailing by 10 points in the third quarter.Mariota, the 2015 No. 2 pick overall, insisted he has learned how to move on 24 hours after wins and losses. He hopes, though, that the Titans dont have to do much of the latter this season.You dont want to get used to losing, he said. You dont want to get used to the frustration. You want guys to kind of feel that burn a little bit just because it makes them hungry and motivated to not feel that way again.Here are some other things to watch when Detroit hosts Tennessee:ON THE RUN: The Lions were last in the league in rushing last season, averaging 83.4 yards a game. Detroits ground game seems to be much improved with Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick. The duo and an inexperienced offensive line should get tested more this week because the Titans limited AAdrian Peterson to 31 yards on 19 carries.ddddddddddddWATCHING WALKER: Tennessee coach Mike Mularkey wants to get tight end Delanie Walker more involved after he had just three receptions for 42 yards last week. It might be relatively easy to do against Detroit, which allowed Colts tight ends Dwayne Allen and Jack Doyle to combine for seven receptions, 88 yards and three TDs.Im sure hes probably smiling after he watched our film from last week, Detroit coach Jim Caldwell said.DECENT DEBUT: Detroit left tackle Taylor Decker, the No. 16 pick overall out of Ohio State, appeared to perform well in his first NFL game at a position that isnt easy to play for rookies.Its a good base to build off throughout the season, he said. They have some good pass rushers. It was good for me to play a full game to build some confidence.INJURY WATCH: Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy played last week, a great sign after he missed almost all of last season with a hip injury. Levy, though, missed practice Wednesday and Thursday this week because of a quadriceps injury.Titans linebacker Derrick Morgan couldnt finish the opener after going down with an injured left hamstring and did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. If Morgan cant play Sunday, Kevin Dodd, the No. 33 pick overall, is expected to get significant playing time. Dodd was limited this offseason after having surgery on his right foot and was on the physically unable to perform list until a month ago.WELCOME BACK: The Titans start offensive tackles who fans at Ford Field will recognize: Taylor Lewan, the 11th overall pick out of Michigan in 2014, and Jack Conklin, the No. 8 pick overall this year out of Michigan State. Like Lewan did with the Wolverines, he fills up reporters notebooks with unique quotes.If there were a Pro Bowl for mustaches, mine would be in the Pro Bowl, Lewan said.---AP Pro Football Writer Teresa M. Walker contributed to this report.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Larry Lage at www.twitter.com/larrylage and follow his work at www.bigstory.ap.org/content/larry-lage ' ' '