Yeah, the only way things get better is if the league decides it wants to crack down on this kind of thing. And there is nothing to suggest that they do.
IMO, the biggest problem that the league faces is with the quality of the officiating. And I have absolutely no doubt that these are the best refs on the planet. The problem is that it is their mandate to manage the game, instead of officiate infractions.
I believe a penalty should be a penalty every time - first period, OT, first time, 20th time. It's a penalty or it isn't.
Officiating to manage the flow of the game is ruining the game. And the irony is that the game already has more competitive balance than it ever has. Teams are really evenly matched now, with the salary cap. Let them play.
And if a team takes 20 penalties and loses a game 10-0, so what? The occasional blow out never hurt anyone. It's a long season.
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