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Lack of intensity lands Downie in press box

Philadelphia Flyers v Vancouver Canucks

VANCOUVER, CANADA - DECEMBER 30: Steve Downie #9 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates against the Vancouver Canucks on December 30, 2013 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Marissa Baecker

The Philadelphia Flyers won’t use forward Steve Downie against the New York Rangers tonight. Flyers coach Craig Berube wasn’t happy with the 26-year-old forward’s performance in Saturday’s 6-3 defeat against the Tampa Bay Lightning, so he’ll be a healthy scratch.

“His intensity level isn’t high enough on a shift-to-shift basis,” Berube told CSN Philly.

Berube added that he wants to see Downie play with an edge without being undisciplined. He had two minor penalties on Saturday.

The Flyers forward doesn’t think he’s dealt with intensity problems in the past, but he’s confident that this is a problem he can fix.

Downie returned on Dec. 28 after missing two games with an upper-body injury and there’s been questions as to whether he ever fully recovered. When pressed about it he admitted that he’s been dealing with “a couple issues,” but didn’t specify further.

“I’m not going to make excuses,” he said. “I haven’t played my best hockey, that’s obvious.”

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