The Pittsburgh Penguin's top defenseman has done it all in his 1,000 games in the NHL, here is a look at his most notable moments.

Pittsburgh Penguins' defenseman Kris Letang will play in his 1,000th game when they take on the Philadelphia Flyers. Letang is undoubtedly the greatest defenseman in franchise history, amassing three Stanley Cups and 686 points. The third member of the black and gold's elite trio has a long list of career highlights, but what are the top moments? 

5. Letang Takes Huge Hit, Returns for Game Winner

In 2011, Letang was still reaching the apex of his game. He had developed into the best defenseman on the team, but where he stood in the leadership ranks was unclear. It was made clear during a random game in November against the Montreal Canadiens.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbkIuftMZSs[/embed]

In the third period of a 3-3 contest in Montreal, Letang took a huge hit that left him shaken and sent him to the locker room to repair a bloodied nose. He returned in the overtime period and got his revenge, scoring the game winning goal. It was clear in this moment that Letang was not only an essential player, but an essential leader for the Penguins going forward. 

4. Five-Point Night in Winnipeg

On January 27, 2015, the Penguins were without the two-headed monster that is Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Strapped for offense, Kris Letang had a career night against the Winnipeg Jets. The Penguins were trailing 3-2 entering the third period, but managed to score three unanswered goals for a 5-2 victory. Letang notched five assists, with two coming on power play goals in the third period. It was one of the most effective and efficient games of Letang’s storied career.

3. Letang Returns Just Weeks After Second Stroke

While Letang may draw some fair criticism for his at-times frustrating play, what can never be criticized is his commitment to hockey and his teammates. Letang’s injury history is bizarre and terrifying for anybody, let alone a peak conditioned athlete.

In November of 2022, it was reported that Letang suffered a stroke. This was the second one in less than a decade, at only 35-years-old. Many feared he would be forced to retire due to this, but Letang proved his commitment again, returning to practice just 10 days later. He’s gone on to play in 58 games in the 2022-23 season, and has 36 points to lead all Penguins defenseman. He’s an incredibly dedicated hockey player, and that cannot be overstated. 

2. Stanley Cup Clincher in San Jose

The Penguins 2016 Stanley Cup winning team is arguably the greatest Penguins team of the Salary Cap era and possibly team history. Letang was an essential piece of that run. He put up 67 points in the regular season, added on an additional 15 points during the cup run, and scored the Stanley Cup clinching goal against the San Jose Sharks. 

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXpeeQsXy_E[/embed]

After a classic pinch in the offensive zone from Letang, he puts the puck on net with Crosby and Patric Hornqvist crashing. The chance is knocked aside, but Crosby regains possession and finds Letang for a sneaky, back door goal. It put the Penguins ahead in the game, 2-1, and would ultimately prove to be the game and series winning goal. 

1. Overtime Game Winner Against the Capitals

The Penguins had a poor start to their 2009 conference semi-finals matchup against the Washington Capitals. Down two games to none, the teams were deadlocked at two goals a piece entering overtime. With less than 10 minutes to play in the first overtime period, Letang one-timed a feed from his partner, Mark Eaton, and beat the Capitals goaltender over the left shoulder. The result gave the Penguins life in the series, and helped propel the team to their first championship of the Crosby-Malkin-Letang era.

Through 1,000 games, Letang has made a lifetime of memories and enjoyed a career’s worth of success and personal recognition. As the Penguins celebrate his achievement, let’s look forward to more memories and dedication to the game ahead.

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