BOSTON — Kris Letang did not play for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Boston Bruins at the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic on Monday after the death of his father.
“Kris, as you know, is dealing with a lower-body injury. He will not play today,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said before the 2-1 loss. “I know some of you are aware that while we were here in Boston, Kris’ dad passed away, so he has returned to Montreal to be with his family. And we just want to express our sincere and deepest sympathy for him and his family during this difficult time.”
The 35-year-old defenseman did not participate in practice at Fenway Park on Sunday after missing a 4-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Friday with a lower-body injury.
“It’s obviously sad. He’s a guy who loves these games, loves the big moment,” defenseman Brian Dumoulin said Sunday. “So, it’s tough going without him. Obviously, he’s such an important guy to have in our defensive corps, so we’ve got to pick him up.”
Letang leads the Penguins in average ice time per game (24:32) and is first among their defensemen with 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in 29 games this season.
“It’s huge,” defenseman Marcus Pettersson said. “He’s such a big part of our team, the minutes he logs and how hard he plays for us all the time. Every time he’s missing from the lineup, it’s a huge blow for our team.”
Letang missed five games earlier this season after he had a stroke for the second time in his hockey career. 28. He was able to return to the lineup 12 days later and played in each of their next eight games before missing their loss to the Devils.
“It’s definitely not something that you want for your teammate,” the defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph said. “Health is always a priority in people’s lives. I think it’s important that he takes care of himself and takes time with his family as well. … We have to stay positive with him. We’re all here for him.”
Ty Smith, who was recalled from Wilkes Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Dec. 28, made his Penguins debut in place of Letang against the Devils, who had selected him with the No. 17 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. Smith finished that game first among Penguins defensemen with 22:14 of ice time, including 11:10 in Letang’s spot on the top power-play unit, and could be called upon again to play in his first Winter Classic on Monday.
“It’s kind of a weird situation. You never want anyone to be out of the lineup, but hopefully I can try and fill in the best I can in whatever role they use me in,” Smith said. “It’s a special experience. It’s something I’ve never done before, and the Winter Classic is a really cool event. So, I’m really looking forward to playing in it if I get that opportunity.”
Smith was acquired by the Penguins in a trade with the Devils for a defenseman John Marino on July 16. He has 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 26 AHL games this season.
“The poise that he has with the puck, he can make so many good plays,” Pettersson said. “He sees the ice well, he skates really well. So, I think that’s a huge part of what he brings. We like what we see from him.”
Chad Ruhwedelwho has missed the past two games with an upper-body injury, participated in practice but also remains day to day.
“He’s making progress,” Sullivan said.
NHL.com staff writer Amalie Benjamin and independent correspondent Wes Crosby contributed to this report
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