Quote:
Originally Posted by devo22
People need to stop acting like this is a butter-soft team.
11:39 PIM/game (1st in the NHL)
323 minor penalties (1st in the NHL)
36 major penalties (4th in the NHL)
5 game misconducts (1st in the NHL)
This isn't the 90s. Pittsburgh were 29th in major penalties.
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Penalties have nothing to do with toughness. Flames moved amazingly from one of the least penalized to the most penalized because of unprofessional action from the refs. They aren't instigating anything and almost entirely their actions are out of frustration. They can't play a physical game. Not a goon game but a physical one. The Ducks pushed them around Not because they can outfight them but they are bigger and tougher.
The goon argument and the old days hockey argument are so lame. There are different ways to win a hockey game. When your goalie can't see the puck, when you are pinned in your own zone, when you lose on one board battles this is a team beating you physically. These situations are also when the Flames take penalties often as they can't control the play physically. So there isn't goons anymore there are still big players running around taking advantage of their size. Plus against weak teams with mediocre powerplays there is no reason that they can't go over the line in that physical play as well.
The Flames are a small weak team who so far this offseason got even weaker.
They need some counter to teams that play physical.