The Penguins will play Washington tonight in the season finale and defenseman Kris Letang will be absent from the lineup after having surgery on Tuesday to close a small hole in his heart. Letang suffered strokes in 2014 and 2022 and the hole was discovered after the first one. The hole is called a patent foramen ovale and the anticipated recovery time is four to six weeks.
Letang attended yesterday’s practice, just a day after the surgery. Coach Mike Sullivan said it was a surgery that Letang has known was coming for some time.
Sullivan says he has not spoken to Letang specifically about retirement, nor has he spoken about it to Sidney Crosby or Kris Letang. He says that’s a personal decision each of them must make.
Meanwhile, the Penguins have one more chance to play before their adoring fans, and Sullivan does not take that for granted.
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby says Letang has always said he’d like to play util he’s 50, and he doesn’t doubt that he may try.
Crosby said he is hoping the Capitals will have longtime rival and friend Alexander Ovechkin in the lineup tonight.
Airtime for the Penguins and Capitals tonight on 92.5 FM U92 is six o’clock.
