PHN Extra: Kris Letang Career Year, Carrying Penguins Defense

PITTSBURGH — One night after carrying the Pittsburgh Penguins defense with a career high 32 minutes of ice time in the Penguins draining 2-1 win over hated division rival Washington Capitals, defenseman Kris Letang played over 25 minutes in the Penguins 2-1 structured win over the Minnesota Wild.

Let’s be honest, the Penguins defensemen are a group of defensive defenseman who have varying degrees of offensive ability which ranges from yikes to OK. Letang is the thoroughbred the Penguins ride.

He played almost 58 minutes over two days against the top lines of Washington and Minnesota. The Penguins 31-year-old defenseman is not slowing down, he may be speeding up. After an abysmal 2017-18 which was marred by a recovery from neck surgery and frustating limitations, Letang is enjoying his re-emergence.

In those 58 minutes, Letang had four takeaways and just one giveaway. Just one in 58 minutes.

His large smile and laugh Thursday night when asked about his heavy workload spoke volumes beyond his words.