Flyers Notes: Flyers have only 12 penalties, an NHL low

CHICAGO - The Flyers, of all teams, have committed a league-low 12 minor penalties, and they have averaged the NHL's fewest penalty minutes per game (seven) in the first five games.

It's a small sample, but it is still eye-opening for a franchise that usually leads the NHL - or is near the top - in both categories.

It's been "way less taxing" on his penalty killers, said coach Craig Berube, whose team plays in Chicago on Tuesday night. "We've been good so far, and we have to continue to check properly, because when your sticks are in the air and you're hooking and tripping and stuff, you're going to get penalties. . . . Discipline-wise, with the physical play, it's been good."

Berube was asked if he was a little surprised his team had the fewest penalties in the NHL.

"Well, we don't have any tough guys anymore," he cracked. "You want me to suit up?"

He added: "It's been way better, trust me. But it's early, so we have to continue to work on it and keep harping on it. It'll pay benefits down the road."

Power forward Wayne Simmonds said the Flyers need to get lots of traffic in front of Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford and "take his eyes away, and get second and third opportunities as much as you can." . . . Jake Voracek has seven points in five games; it took him 17 games to reach that point total last season. . . . The Phantoms' Scott Laughton (four goals in two games) was named the AHL's player of the week.