Games » Although there was no mention of the Kings

Mercedes have withdrawn their protest against Max Verstappen over his defending of second place versus Lewis Hamilton at the Japanese GP. The team had initially alleged the teenager drove erratically and in a dangerous manner on the penultimate lap when Hamilton sought to overtake the Red Bull.According to Mercedes, their protest was withdrawn in the interests of establishing a final official result once it became apparent that the hearing cannot be concluded today. But there was confusion from Hamilton, with the world champion originally posting on Twitter: There is no protest from either myself or Mercedes. One idiot said we have but its not true. Max drove well, end of. We move on.However, after apparently learning that the team had lodged an appeal, Hamilton then posted: Just heard the team had but I told them it is not what we do. We are champions, we move on. End of! The Formula 1 Gossip column All the latest speculation and rumour in the paddock The incident in question had occurred when Hamilton closed in on Verstappen during the final stages of Sundays race.After the Mercedes driver attempted an ambitious overtake on the run to the chicane, Hamilton was forced to pull out of the corner when Verstappen refused to yield.Hamilton takes blame for startThe FIA, the sports governing body, originally stated that a decision wouldnt be made until the US Grand Prix in two weeks with neither driver available to give or refute evidence, as Mercedes only issued their complaint over three hours after the chequered flag had fallen in Suzuka.A time penalty for Verstappen would have both sealed a belated one-two for Mercedes and closed Hamiltons gap to Nico Rosberg in the title race, which stands at 33 points with four races remaining after the Germans victory. Verstappen has drawn criticism from other drivers for his defensive driving throughout the campaign, clashing with Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen in particular, and stood his ground when questioned on the latest incident.Im not going to open the door and say here you go, the teenager told Sky F1. I saw him moving and as soon as I saw that I closed the door, and I think he was far enough that he could see I was going to do that.Red Bull boss Christian Horner added: I think it was firm but fair. Max was always going to go for the inside line. I think he committed just before the braking area. It was one move and decisive for the inside.Youre not there to wave the other car through.Mercedes confirmed in a statement that they had originally lodged a protest to the FIA under the following regulation: 27.5. At no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner which could be deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person. Lewis Hamilton drops back to eighth after a poor start in the Japanese GP. This will apply whether any such car is being driven on the track, the pit entry or the pit lane.Despite stewards investigations in the past, Verstappen has never been penalised for dangerous driving in 2016 - though he was given an unofficial warning at the Italian GP.Hamilton, who cancelled his usual post-race press briefing in Japan, appeared to have calmed down in the press conference after his earlier protest that Verstappen had moved under-braking over team radio.It doesnt really matter now, he told reporters. Its done and we move forwards.Dont miss The F1 Reports review of the Japanese GP on Sky Sports F1 at 8.30pm on Wednesday evening. Also See: Hamilton takes blame for start Nico extends title lead The Formula 1 Gossip Column WATCH: Hamiltons horrid start Brian Winters Jersey . UCI President Brian Cookson said Wednesday the commission will investigate allegations "that the UCI has been involved in wrongdoing in the past -- allegations which have done so much to hurt the credibility of the UCI and our sport. Wesley Walker Jersey . On Saturday, the paths of Drew Tate and Kevin Glenn cross again as opposing quarterbacks. http://www.officialnewyorkjetsfootball.com/authentic-curtis-martin-jersey-womens . Bjoerndalen, who had failed to win any major race for two years before Sochi, writes in a Facebook entry that he is "full of energy and inspiration" after winning the 10-kilometre sprint and mixed relay at last months Olympics. Joe Namath Jersey . A little more than one year after missing a last-second tip-in that would have given the Wolverines a share of the Big Ten regular-season title, the 6-foot-8 forward scored on a layup with 7. Spencer Long Jersey 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 final minute of the third period last night, it looked like the Kings may have had too many men on the ice during a line change - but there was no call. It was pretty close to overtime, so it might have made a huge difference in the outcome of the game. Did you see it? - Andrew R., Thornhill, ON Hi Andrew: Yes I did see the uncalled Kings too many men on the ice infraction with 21 seconds remaining in regulation time. Although there was no mention of the Kings violation of Rule 74 on either the NBC or CBC broadcasts you and I werent the only ones that caught it Andrew, as I received a tweet from Greg Williams (one of my followers on Twitter) questioning the play as well. For those that didnt observe it, let me share exactly what transpired. This too many men on the ice infraction committed by the Kings was as much of an "automatic call" as the one made a minute and three seconds earlier on Brian Boyle of the Rangers when he was penalized for a slash that broke the stick of Dwight King. There was great end-to-end action and scoring opportunities for both teams with under a minute to play in regulation time that were only thwarted through superb saves by Jonathan Quick on Carl Hagelin and Henrik Lunqvist on a Jeff Carter wraparound. After some sustained pressure by the Kings following the Carter scoring opportunity, the puck exited the Rangers zone and beyond the centre red line off the skate of Hagelin. As Alec Martinez went back to retrieve the puck on the penalty box side of the ice, Drew Doughty sauntered toward the Kings bench on the opposite side of the ice for a change following another energized shift by the potential Conn Smythe Trophy winner. With 22.7 seconds on the clock both Doughty and his replacement, Slava Voynov, were physically on the ice within fivve feet of the bench in what would determined as a legal line change as Martinez gained control of the puck midway between the red line and the Kings blue line.dddddddddddd Two tenths of a second later (22.5) Martinez looked to his right and toward Voynov to throw a cross-ice pass. Voynov received the puck on his stick approximately 20 feet from his players bench at 20.9 seconds on the clock and with both of Doughtys skates clearly on the ice and preparing to climb over the boards. If we freeze frame it in this moment a clear violation of Rule 74.1 was committed requiring an immediate whistle and a bench minor assessed to the LA Kings for too many men on the ice. (Rule 74.1—If in the course of making a substitution, either the player entering the game or the player retiring from the ice surface plays the puck with his stick, skates or hands or who checks or makes any physical contact with an opposing player while either the player entering the game or the retiring player is actually on the ice, then the infraction of "too many men on the ice" will be called.) Both linesmen appeared to have had unobstructed views from their respective positions to follow the line change, up to and including the point when Voynov played the puck while Doughty was still physically on the ice. Even though this is primarily a linesmans call to make, one of the referees was positioned near the Kings bench inside the blue line and might very well have had a sightline on the change at the bench. This "automatic" call was not made and Voynov carried the puck through the neutral zone and led the attack. We cant be certain if a penalty call on this play would have changed the outcome of the game Andrew. What we can be certain of is that if a penalty had been called the teams would have played four-on-four until Brian Boyles penalty expired 24 seconds into overtime - at which point the Rangers would have enjoyed the benefit of a power-play for one minute and sixteen seconds. 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