Jan. 21--Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler committed his first penalty of the season in Anaheim's 46th game.
Does that make him a gifted gentleman of the game or someone who could afford to show a tougher edge?
"I'm sure there are times when he'd like to be more aggressive, but a lot of it is good positioning and not having to take penalties," Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau said Tuesday after the Ducks (30-10-6) practiced for Wednesday night's game at Honda Center against the Calgary Flames (25-18-3).
A second-period hooking call Saturday on Fowler against the Kings was "very suspect," Boudreau said. "Cam's never been a high-penalty guy. He's in the proper position. While we'd always like some of the guys to be more physical, I'm not worried about it by any stretch."
Fowler, third on the team in ice time (21 minutes 12 seconds per game), said the first penalty "was just one of those things that hadn't happened."
"I'm not a rough, tough kind of guy," Fowler said. "I don't think it's the greatest thing in the world to not have any penalty minutes ... but when it comes down to it, any time you put your team down short-handed, 99% of the time it's not a good thing. So if I can stay out of the box, that's good for me."
With five goals and 17 assists, Fowler is plus-three this season while routinely defending against the opponent's top line.
"My game's more positioning, skating," Fowler said. "People don't expect me to throw the big hits or get in four, five fights a year. I don't want to be labeled as a guy who doesn't compete because I don't take penalties. I don't think that's fair. I want to work hard, compete and help this team win games."
Dominant run
The Flames handed the Ducks one of their ugliest defeats last season and beat them again in the Saddledome in November before losing at Honda Center, 3-2, on Nov. 25.
That was Calgary's 19th consecutive loss in Anaheim.
"For whatever reason, we've had success against them, but they're a very sound team," Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano said. "There's no way we're taking them lightly. They're in [playoff position] right now. This is by far one of the tougher teams to play in the league."
Power boost
The Ducks' streak of five straight games with a power-play goal ties a team record dating to December 2011, and follows a one-for-27 slump.
Ducks assistant coach Brad Lauer put players through another special-teams practice session Tuesday, and said the steady work has paid dividends.
"We've been executing, getting on the attack more, shooting more," Lauer said. "We're moving the puck quicker, establishing a good shot. Working on it every day has been nice, and I think it shows."
DUCKS VS. CALGARY
When: 7.
On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 830.
Etc.: Ducks defenseman Eric Brewer, who broke a bone in his foot on Dec. 1, has returned to practice this week, said he's scheduled for two doctor appointments by the weekend, and could rejoin the team next week.
