The Pittsburgh Penguins have a discipline problem. Sunday’s blowout loss to the Detroit Red Wings was accompanied by 12 Penguins penalties, according to NHL.com’s box score.
Seven of those penalties were related to unsportsmanlike conduct—two-minute minors, 10-minute misconducts or game misconducts. At the NHL level, a team taking that many liberties against the opposition is unacceptable.
Coach Mike Johnston reiterated this after the game, citing concerns with Steve Downie’s game.
“As I talked about before, and I met with him before the game [Sunday] and I told him we just can’t have that,” Johnston said to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “That is a concern for sure. Downie has to play without taking minor penalties, especially obstruction penalties.”
The Pens’ penalty issues didn’t end with Steve Downie.
Kris Letang’s discipline issues have been cited before, and he was back at it on Sunday. His banter with the referees cost the Penguins one of their best defenseman when he was assessed a game misconduct near t ...
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Article written by Michael Nellis
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March 18th, 2015 by Michael Nellis Leave a reply »
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