from Jenn Menendez of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

Letang was ejected Sunday halfway through the second period for something he said to referees, capping a team performance that renewed the unflattering reputation that paints the Penguins as complainers that can’t keep their cool.

Discipline problems Sunday reared their ugly head to the tune of four 10-minute misconducts, one ejection and 64 total penalty minutes.

“I think [compared] to a few years ago I think we’ve been better, but it’s the way that people see us,” said Letang. “They think we’re always all over the referees. We need to get better at that. Even better than what we did this year. We have to control what we can control and not worry about those things.”

Coach Mike Johnston said he has, at times this year, seen his team react in ways he doesn’t like.

In his estimation it is the coaching staff and designated team leaders that should speak with officials. But no one else.

“The other players shouldn’t be dealing with officials at all. So it’s mainly [through] the leadership group and the coaches how you deal with the officials. It has an impact as you move forward, for sure,” said Johnston. “The referees talk to each other. You don’t want to have the reputation of being the team that complains, that whines, that does those types of things. I don’t believe that we have, but I’ve seen some signs during the course of the year that I don’t like and we have to address them as they come up.”

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