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Calgary4LIfe · 11-16-2016, 01:43 PM

21 slashes all directed at Gaudreau, particularly his wrists/hands area.

This was for sure a game plan. A masterful game plan, actually. Dirty and cheap, but smart.

For the record, it makes me happy that the Flames didn't hire Boudreau. As 'pro fighting' as I am, one thing I really dislike is cheap shots and other crap that goes on that is intended to hurt someone. I don't like predatory hits, yadda yadda.

Now, why was this a masterful plan?

Boudreau is fairly astute. He realizes that the refs don't call slashing penalties every time, unless it happens to break a stick. A ref is there primarily to manage the game, not protect players. If anyone thinks differently, well, it is wrong. They manage the flow of the game, and that's about it.

Stick broken on a slash? Automatic penalty. Flip the puck over the glass from your own zone? Automatic suspension. Hack someone hard on the ankles, wrists? Discretionary. They call it to manage the game. That's it.

On top of this, having this game plan against Calgary is even more productive. If the ref does indeed use his discretion to call one or two of these, that will be about it. Calgary's PP is anemic. If the game plan gets caught, it probably won't result in anything negative to the Wild in deciding the outcome of the game.

Also, Calgary's PK sucks. Know when refs really seem to use their discretion? They don't like games to get 'out of hand'. They prefer to call retaliatory penalties it seems. If Calgary retaliates, they get called, and Minnesota is in a favorable position to win the game.

It is almost a 'can't lose' scenario for Minnesota. You take the chance that a penalty or two - at most three - will get called against you, but we all know the refs are NOT going to call 21 slashing penalties. Against a team with a weak PP, and an offensive system that seems to run through a single player, it is just some astute - and terribly dirty - coaching.

Now, if Calgary ever decides to stick up for one another, and start playing a chippy game when things like this go down, I would think other coaches wouldn't think of employing a tactic like this.

Flames have no swagger and little willingness to move away from an overly-disciplined game. They need to get more aggressive. This will just continue happening.

11-16-2016, 01:43 PM	#336
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	21 slashes all directed at Gaudreau, particularly his wrists/hands area. This was for sure a game plan. A masterful game plan, actually. Dirty and cheap, but smart. For the record, it makes me happy that the Flames didn't hire Boudreau. As 'pro fighting' as I am, one thing I really dislike is cheap shots and other crap that goes on that is intended to hurt someone. I don't like predatory hits, yadda yadda. Now, why was this a masterful plan? Boudreau is fairly astute. He realizes that the refs don't call slashing penalties every time, unless it happens to break a stick. A ref is there primarily to manage the game, not protect players. If anyone thinks differently, well, it is wrong. They manage the flow of the game, and that's about it. Stick broken on a slash? Automatic penalty. Flip the puck over the glass from your own zone? Automatic suspension. Hack someone hard on the ankles, wrists? Discretionary. They call it to manage the game. That's it. On top of this, having this game plan against Calgary is even more productive. If the ref does indeed use his discretion to call one or two of these, that will be about it. Calgary's PP is anemic. If the game plan gets caught, it probably won't result in anything negative to the Wild in deciding the outcome of the game. Also, Calgary's PK sucks. Know when refs really seem to use their discretion? They don't like games to get 'out of hand'. They prefer to call retaliatory penalties it seems. If Calgary retaliates, they get called, and Minnesota is in a favorable position to win the game. It is almost a 'can't lose' scenario for Minnesota. You take the chance that a penalty or two - at most three - will get called against you, but we all know the refs are NOT going to call 21 slashing penalties. Against a team with a weak PP, and an offensive system that seems to run through a single player, it is just some astute - and terribly dirty - coaching. Now, if Calgary ever decides to stick up for one another, and start playing a chippy game when things like this go down, I would think other coaches wouldn't think of employing a tactic like this. Flames have no swagger and little willingness to move away from an overly-disciplined game. They need to get more aggressive. This will just continue happening.