Penguins concerned by Steve Downie's waning discipline

Steve Downie has been an effective player since signing with the Pittsburgh Penguins in free agency last summer. That's why it was a bit of a surprise to see him scratched against the Anaheim Ducks earlier this month.

At the time, the basis behind the decision was unknown. But if head coach Mike Johnston's words following his team's 5-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings were any indication, Downie, with 30 penalty minutes in his five games since, hasn't had the message set in. 

"I told him we just can't have that. That is a concern for sure," Johnston told reporters. "Downie has to play without taking minor penalties, especially obstruction penalties. If you take a penalty where you initiate through physical play, or something like that, we can accept that. And he knows that."

With his league-leading 221 penalty minutes this season, Downie became the first Penguin to eclipse 200 since 1993.