The Blue Jackets are stuck in a similar playing style against the Penguins this year, focusing on hitting at all times rather than doing it at select times, when it will be helpful. Doing so is tiring them out and the Penguins are not phased by this style of play, it doesn't work against them as evidenced by the two games so far.
It is odd that the Blue Jackets have gone down this path when during their record breaking streak they didn't play that way. They focused on using actual skill alongside physical play which was harder to play against. Playing physical against the Pens and trying to get under their skin hasn't worked since we played the Flyers in the 2012 play offs.
Under Tortorella the Blue Jackets are a much more physical and have had a few moments where they have overstepped the mark into more unwanted plays that should be met with the swift hand of the Department of Player Safety. I think actions like Calvert's happening because of that kind of mindset and it doesn't help.
As I'm typing this the league has announced that Calvert will spend one game suspended and you can say they blew it. An intent to injury someone with a stick should be more than one game. A one game suspension is a weak response and sends a message out that you will get off lightly if you do the same. A strong suspension of 4/5 games would have been more appropriate.
In my opinion the Department of Player Safety is run by amateurs who have no idea what they're are doing. The league is run by dinosaurs who are holding it back by thinking in the past. Getting rid of them and moving forward with new ideas and and actual safety department would help. But it won't happen and the league will seem surprised when a star player is injured for a long time on one of these "one game" hits.
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