Penguins defenseman Kris Letang sidelined by injury
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang will be scratched due to an undisclosed injury for Sunday’s game against the New York Islanders at PPG Paints Arena.
The team announced Letang’s status approximately a half hour before the opening faceoff but did not provide substantive details as to the nature of Letang’s ailment.
Letang logged one of his highest time on ice figures of the season during a 6-3 road loss to the Islanders on Saturday, clocking 25:04 on 27 shifts.
A six-time All-Star, the right-handed Letang has appeared in 34 games this season and scored 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) while averaging 23:24 of ice time per contest.
His absence adds to the Penguins’ woes on the blue line as left-handers Marcus Pettersson (undisclosed) and Owen Pickering (concussion) are currently designated to injured reserve.
With Letang scratched, Nate Clurman is expected to make his NHL debut.
The 26-year-old right-hander participated in warmups and skated on the third pairing with left-hander Ryan Shea.
In 23 American Hockey League games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, Clurman has six points (two goals, four assists).
Clurman has been recalled to the NHL roster three times this season, all within the past month. The most recent recall happened on Friday.
Note: Forward Bryan Rust is listed as an alternate captain in Letang’s absence.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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