Count me in as thinking that Torts completely overreacted to the entire situation. If I was him, I would have started the first line against the Flames' 4th line. Why not? This is modern hockey, not the 70's and especially the 80's. If 'goons' suddenly start grabbing and pummelling the other team - especially stars - they would be gone for months with suspensions, plus the coaching and maybe even team fines. You don't see that any longer. When Torts threw out that 4th line, then everyone knew it was going to erupt.
Hartley should have never received a fine for that. I think it was a statement to both Vancouver that this game is going to be a tough game, but also a statement to everyone else in the lineup as an example - IIRC, that bottom line worked really hard the game before that and were being rewarded, while the other lines had to take note.
I may be mis-remembering now, but it seemed like every subsequent season under Hartley, the Flames were less and less 'tough' and became one of the league's most disciplined teams. Am I remembering that correctly?
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