Frustrations Hurt the Pittsburgh Penguins' Chances of Winning

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 the end of the second period.

"

NEW: Kris Letang mocks an official when learning he has been kicked out of the game vs Detroit http://t.co/NefDbTsrO8

— The Pensblog (@Pensblog) March 15, 2015"

This isn’t the first time that Letang has let his undisciplined play cost the Penguins. In 2013, his protest of a non-call led to a Milan Michalek goal in a crucial Game 4 against the Ottawa Senators.

Johnston said that the Pens’ conduct with referees is concerning because word can travel around.

“It has an impact for sure, because the referees talk to each other,” said Johnston. “You don’t want to have the reputation of being a team that complains, that whines, that does those types of things.”

Reputation isn’t the only thing that should concern Johnston’s squad. It’s easy to see that the losses pile up when the Pittsburgh penalty box fills.

Just last night, the Penguins suffered a big loss at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings, even though they outshot the Wings handily, 43-25. But end of game irritations prevented any sort of comeback.

If the Pens’ frustration hurts their chances of winning, it’s clear that this team is not built for the playoffs. At this point in the season, opposing teams have caught on to the continued parade of penalties.

Should this trend continue, whomever the Penguins eventually face in the first round will have an easy and obvious path to victory—get under the skin of the team's top players. It could lead to a Penguins implosion of epic proportions, one that no fan wants to see.

Letang did take responsibility for his outburst in the Detroit game. “I shouldn’t have put the team in that situation, especially down a forward already,” Letang told Penguins Director of Content Sam Kasan. “It’s an emotional game. You’re down 4-0 and frustrated. I should have kept my emotions in check. It came out, but I have to learn from that."

However, it appears that Letang didn’t learn from that. He was right back at it in the team’s next matchup with the New Jersey Devils. Letang unleashed his fury on the referee for a non-call on an apparent trip.

While Letang did get tripped and there should have been a penalty, the constant frustration will only lead to more problems for the Pens on the ice.

Johnston has to reel his players back in. The Penguins have to start playing a grittier game—both mentally and physically—if they wish to move out of this slump and back into the win column.