NEWARK, N.J. _ It's only 16 games into the Penguins 2016-17 season, but general manager Jim Rutherford has seen one trend he wants reversed.
Quickly, too.
The Penguins took 10 minor penalties in a 7-1 loss to the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center on Wednesday. No NHL team has taken more in a single game this season. They've been called for three or fewer penalties in only six of 16 games.
It has to stop, Rutherford cautioned.
"This is not good," Rutherford said as the Penguins started practicing Thursday at Barnabas Health Hockey House adjacent to Prudential Center. "We're taking very undisciplined penalties that are ultimately costing us games. It has to get fixed. It has to stop. Whether we're only 15 or 16 games or we're 80 games in, this is an area we have to focus on and fix."
Coach Mike Sullivan has addressed this over and over. The problem had seemingly disappeared, with the Penguins taking a total of seven penalties _ one a double minor _ in the three games prior to Wednesday.
The majority have been stick-related infractions _ high-sticking, hooking and tripping. Despite just one regular season fight in his NHL career, according to hockeyfights.com, and none this season, Evgeni Malkin leads the Penguins with 28 penalty minutes.
Tom Sestito is second with 24, followed by Ian Cole (17) and Chris Kunitz (16).
Not only did the Penguins permit Washington seven power plays Wednesday, on which the Capitals scored a pair of goals, but they spent eight of 20 minutes in the second period on the penalty kill while facing three- and four-goal deficits.
It's not for a lack of effort, Rutherford said. But the penalties are coming from careless plays.
"It's very fixable," Rutherford said. "On one hand, when these things happen in games, sometimes guys are trying too hard. There's a fine line there, with pulling the players back. We can't have some of these undisciplined penalties cost us games. And we have."
