Penguins Star Defenseman Continuing Maintenance Days
The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to monitor the workload of a start defenseman as the season winds down.
PITTSBURGH – With the Pittsburgh Penguins in the middle of a tight playoff race, they’ll need as healthy of a lineup as possible. While they’ve had a relatively healthy season, a key Penguins’ defenseman may be dealing with some sort of ailment.
Star defenseman Kris Letang is yet to miss a game this season but has been a noticeable absence from recent practices. Letang was around for team picture day and participated in the first portion of the following practice, but was an early departure.
Following the practice, head coach Mike Sullivan stated Letang’s departure was part of the plan.
“Tanger was going to skate for a portion of the practice,” Sullivan said. “That was preplanned as part of his maintenance program.”
It’s not clear what might be bothering Letang, but he’s been absent from on-ice workouts for about a week. It's possible it may not even be an injury, but a way to keep him fresh.
Letang plays the most minutes on the Penguins, and as the final games approach, he will be leaned on more than ever. In the last two games, Letang recorded 25 and 24 minutes of ice, respectively. Letang has also been heating up on the scoresheet with eight points in his last seven games.
Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
- Subscribe to Inside the Penguins on YouTube
- Follow Inside the Penguins on Twitter: @InsidePenguins
