The Washington Capitals are gearing up to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins in their final game of the regular season on April 17th.
However, the Penguins will be without a key piece of their lineup, as veteran defenceman Kris Letang will miss the game after recently undergoing invasive heart surgery to repair a hole in his heart– a deeply concerning development, to say the least.
Kris Letang to miss game against Washington Capitals
Unfortunately for Kris Letang, this isn’t the first time he will be sidelined for heart-related issues.
Kris Letang has had a history of suffering minor strokes earlier in his career, linked to the hole in his heart.
He had postponed surgery for as long as possible, but doctors ultimately determined the procedure could no longer be delayed.
According to ESPN, the team said the expected timeline for Letang to make a full recovery is four to six weeks. Pittsburgh was eliminated from postseason contention earlier this month.
Letang, who is signed through the 2027-28 season, had nine goals and 21 assists in 74 games for Pittsburgh this year, his lowest point total over a full season since 2009-10. Letang, 37, also averaged a team-high 23:32 of ice time.
While neither team has anything on the line standing-wise in the final game of the season, the matchup is sure to carry a wave of emotion due to Kris Letang’s absence.
There’s no doubt the Penguins will be playing with heart for their veteran leader, and all of our thoughts and prayers are with him as we wish him a full and speedy recovery.
More details to follow.