Defenseman Kris Letang will not play for the Penguins against the Maple Leafs on Saturday night in Pittsburgh. He is in COVID-19 protocol, coach Mike Sullivan said Saturday morning after an optional skate at PPG Paints Arena.
“He is not confirmed … he's in the confirmatory process,” Sullivan said, adding that Letang did fail an initial COVID-19 test. Letang practiced Friday with the Penguins.
Letang was born with a small hole in his heart, a condition discovered when he was stricken by a stroke in February 2014. He said before last season that doctors signed off on him playing in the NHL and that he was at no more risk if he were to contract COVID-19. Letang is vaccinated, as are all Penguins players, the team confirmed.
The Penguins are expected to recall a defenseman from the AHL for their game against Toronto.
In addition to missing Letang, their top defenseman, the Penguins will also play without center Jeff Carter, who has COVID-19 but is asymptomatic. Goalie Tristan Jarry is available to the Penguins on Saturday night. He practiced Friday after being placed in COVID-19 protocol on Thursday.
The Penguins are 2-0-2 despite having multiple players test positive for COVID-19, losing winger Bryan Rust to a lower-body injury, and playing all season without top centers Sidney Crosby (left wrist) and Evgeni Malkin (left knee).
(Photo: Joe Sargent / NHLI via Getty Images)
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How are the Penguins combating the spread of COVID-19?
Rob Rossi, Penguins senior writer: After winger Jake Guentzel became the second player to test positive for COVID-19 midway through training camp, Sullivan said protocol enforced last season would return. That protocol includes daily testing, maintaining recommended distance on site when players are not on the ice, and isolating as much as possible away from the rink.
The Penguins avoided a COVID-19 outbreak last season. But they have had Letang, Carter, Guentzel and winger Zach-Aston Reese miss games this season because of either contraction and/or protocol.
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What does Letang’s absence mean?
Rossi: Well, for anyone with the opinion the Penguins should let Letang and Malkin leave after this season, this game against Toronto offers a look at how important those two franchise stalwarts still are in Pittsburgh. Mostly, though, Letang’s absence forces the Penguins to extend minutes of available defensemen against arguably as deep a group of talented forwards as exists in the NHL.
The Penguins were already going against the Maple Leafs without their top three centers — not just any centers, but future Hall of Famers in Crosby, Malkin and Carter. Losing Letang removes their top situational defenseman and their power-play quarterback.
Other than all of that, all will be well in Pittsburgh.
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