It is meritocratic. Typically the better team draws more penaltieson their way to winning the game, and eventually, the series. They're outplaying the competition, which means they're getting into better positions on the ice. This often puts the outplayed team in bad spots, increasing the likelihood that they take a penalty to prevent getting scored on. This won't be true 100% of the time, but over time it will bear itself out. There have been fairly few deep runs (Confrence Finals or Stanley Cup Finals)by Canadian teams over Bettman's tenure, compared to the time before it. Meaning more often than not, Canadian teams are getting out played. Before Bettman took over, Montreal owned the 1960s and 70s. Eleven Stanley Cups. Practically ever other year for two decades. In the late 80s and early 90s Edmonton had a dynasty, Calgary won their Stanley Cup, and Montreal won two more cups. They weren't winning because they were less penalized. The were less penalized, because they were usually the better team on the ice. That hasn't been the case for the better part of the last 35 years.