The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that they have officially placed defenseman Kris Letang on Injured Reserve. Penguins Coach Mike Sullivan initially announced Letang’s injury on Thursday after the previous night’s 4-3 overtime victory against the Boston Bruins. Letang did not miss a shift that game, but was slow to get up after a rough hit into the boards during the second period.
Letang has 2G and 17A in 25 games for the Penguins and sits 4th in team scoring. The Canadian defenseman plays almost six minutes more a night than any other Penguin, and his presence on the blueline will be sorely missed.
To replace Letang the Penguins have recalled defenseman Chad Ruhwedel from the AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Ruhwedel has 3G and 10A in 26 games for the AHL club. The 26 year-old signed with the Penguins organization this summer after playing four seasons with the Buffalo Sabres organization, appearing in 33 NHL games over that timeframe.
Major loss for the champs. But they’re still prob gonna run the table again – total beast of a hockey team there.