an on his heels. With eight seconds left in what had been

Echoes of replacement refs.One item in the labour agreement the NFL struck with its game officials in 2012 after the lockout called for all-star crews working the post-season.The NFL Referees Association insisted on it. The league was so eager to get the regulars back on the field after the replacement officials debacle that it agreed.After the uproar surrounding one specific non-call in the Detroit-Dallas wild-card game Sunday — and other calls made or ignored over the weekend — lots of people are wondering why the NFL gave in.Generally, before 2004 the highest-rated full crews worked playoff games and the Super Bowl. That changed to a hybrid system in 04 that allowed for eliminating lower-rated officials on some crews from working the post-season.Moving to the current all-star approach allows for officials rated highest at each position by supervisors to get the premium assignments. But it also can rob the crews working the critical January and February games of the cohesion developed through a full preseason and regular season.Regardless, until the CBA with the officials union runs out after next years post-season, the all-star format is in effect.So how are these officials evaluated?—Officiating supervisors rate performances of on-field referees, umpires, linesmen and judges every week on every play. All of the supervisors are former on-field officials.The crewmembers get to see those weekly reports.—Officials get an accuracy percentage on their calls for the entire season, which takes into account the calls made and missed, and calls that should have been made, says Dean Blandino, director of NFL officiating.—Then the officials are grouped into three tiers based on that accuracy percentage of their calls. Those in Tier 1 are eligible for playoff assignments, including the Super Bowl and the conference championships.Those in Tier 2 will fill in the blanks and handle some of the other playoff games.If an official is in Tier 3, he gets no post-season assignments and could be up for employment review, Blandino says.Seniority is not taken into account.—Once placed in a tier, the officials are divided up based on other criteria. That includes decisiveness, clarity of explanations, control of the game, physical fitness, and several other categories.The officials who rate best overall are chosen to work the post-season.—No crew will work more than two games. The Super Bowl crew will handle one of this weekends games, meaning that Pete Morellis group that worked the Lions-Cowboys contest will not do the big game.For the Super Bowl crew, we want them to work one game, and the divisional round is best, Blandino says. Its not that long a break after the season or before the Super Bowl. It fits right in the middle.Often, several of the officiating crew members will have worked a game or more during the regular season, perhaps even much of the schedule. For Lions-Cowboys, Blandino says four of the officials had been at the same regular-season game, but none had worked with Morelli in 2014.As for which particular games the crews get in the first two rounds of the playoffs, Blandino says the NFL will look at the matchups and the two teams and tendencies, and then look at the officials and if they fit for certain matchups.Could the assignment system be changed once the CBA with the officials union concludes?Its definitely something to look at after the 2015 season, Blandino says, but at this point there is no strong opinion one way or the other.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Anfernee Simons Blazers Jersey . Bjoergen pulled away from Swedens Charlotte Kalla on the final straight to win in 38 minutes, 33.6 seconds and defend her title from the 2010 Vancouver Games. Kalla was 1.8 seconds back. Heidi Weng of Norway took bronze. Mario Hezonja Jersey . TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie tweeted Monday morning that Callahan - who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, is now open to a six-year contract at less than $7 million per season. https://www.blazerslockerroom.com/Mario-Hezonja-City-Edition-Jersey/ .com) - It appears both the Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls will reach the playoffs, but the two squads are coming off losing efforts. Hassan Whiteside Blazers Jersey . Johnny Manziel, college footballs most entertaining player with the reputation for pulling off magical plays, was selected with the No. Jaylen Hoard Jersey . His chance at winning a Stanley Cup in Philadelphia is over. Same with Jeff Carter. And Brian Boucher. Throw in Ville Leino and Dan Carcillo. WINNIPEG -- Carl Hagelins first career hat trick rescued a three-game road swing for the New York Rangers and threw a little more dirt on the Winnipeg Jets playoff chances Friday night. "It feels good, Ive never had one before, not even in College," Hagelin said after the Rangers outgunned the Jets 4-2, behind some solid goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist following a pretty wide open first period. They went into the second tied 2-2 but Hagelins second goal of the game with just eight seconds left was enough to win it. His final one in the third was just icing. It was frustrating for the Jets, who outshot the Rangers 32-23 yet watched their sixth game without a win go into the books. "The third period we came out and kind of threw everything we had at them," said Winnipeg centre Bryan Little, whose assist on Winnipegs second goal kept him in the scoring lead for the Jets with an NHL career-high 54 points. "But we couldnt find a way. Our mistakes kind of made us pay tonight." "They did a good job coming at us hard, very aggressive, but at the same time we played such an aggressive style you might give up some scoring chances that are really grade-A scoring chances," agreed Hagelin. The Jets caught a small break when the Dallas Stars only increased their lead in the final wild-card spot in the West by one point, after losing 4-3 in a shootout to the Calgary Flames. But the Jets are also one point behind Vancouver and four behind the Phoenix Coyotes as they try to climb into that final wild-card spot. Hagelins three goals raised his total this year to an NHL career-high 16. Chris Kreider also scored for New York (36-28-4), who had lost their two previous road games in Carolina and Minnesota. "You cant come on a road trip and go back empty handed, those are two big points," said Martin St. Louis, who came out of the penalty box to snatch the puck and set up New Yorks go-ahead goal at the end of the second period. "Being able to come out of the box and get one was I think big (for) the momentum of our team." Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd scored for the Jets (30-29-9), who havent won a game since Mar. 1. "I dont think guys in here are giving up," said Ladd, who played his 600th NHL game Friday night. "I dont know. I want to think were trying as hard as we can to get this going in the right direction." The Jetss also lost starting netminder Ondrej Pavelec, who didnt answer the bell for the second period and was replaced by Al Montoya.dddddddddddd Coach Paul Maurice wouldnt comment on the nature of the lower-body injury that sent him to the dressing room but said hed say more Sunday after its evaluated. The Jets also lost fourth-line forward Chris Thorburn to injury Friday night. The Jets have tried to remain positive and not look back at their losses but Little admitted that isnt easy. "Its getting harder right now," Little said. "Were really fighting to win and theyre not coming easy by any means. . . . Coming into the rink tomorrow is going to be tough because tonight was a painful one. "I wish we could go out and redo the whole game right now." The Rangers were playing back-to-back after a 2-1 loss in Minnesota Thursday, but came out fast and scored on just their third shot of the game. Hagelin deflected his first past Pavelec at 1:15. The goal had barely been announced when Byfuglien evened things up at 2:33 as he batted Blake Wheelers rebound past Lundqvist. Less than a minute later, Ladd put the Jets up 2-1, when he found the upper corner of the New York net with a wrister from the faceoff circle on Lundqvists stick side at 3:26. Winnipeg was cycling the puck in the Rangers zone until Kreider broke away and scored at 11:28 with Winnipeg defenceman Zach Bogosian on his heels. With eight seconds left in what had been a scoreless second period, St. Louis came out of the box, fed Hagelin from behind the net and he flipped in a backhander. "Thats a tough goal," said Maurice. "I think clearly the 3-2 goal changed how we moved the puck and how we moved some things around." At the same time, he said the games the Jets are losing are a lot like the games the Jets won after he took over. The only difference now -- chances arent turning into goals. "Its a frustrating run, theres no question," Maurice said. The Winnipeg coach also said the Jets know theyre facing one of the toughest stretches in their schedule with games against some of the top teams in the NHL. Hagelin put in his third at 8:50 of the third period off a pass from Brad Richards on a two-man rush that beat Montoya through the five hole. Notes: This was the second meeting this year between the Rangers and Jets. Winnipeg won the first 5-2 at Madison Square Garden Dec. 2. ' ' '