Penguins defenseman Kris Letang takes leave of absence following father's death

BOSTON — Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang took a leave of absence from the team to attend to his family in Montreal following the death of his father, Claude Fouquet.

Coach Mike Sullivan announced Letang’s status Monday approximately two hours before the Penguins were scheduled to face the Boston Bruins at Fenway Park for the NHL’s Winter Classic.

Letang was not expected to play in the game because of an undisclosed injury that sidelined him in the Penguins’ most recent game, a 4-2 home loss to the New Jersey Devils on Friday.

With regard to his injury, Letang has been labeled as “day to day.”

The 2022-23 season has been trying for Letang. Most notably, he missed five games in late November and early December after a stroke, the second of his career.

In 29 games this season, Letang leads the team’s defensemen with 16 points (two goals, 14 assists). He also leads the team’s non-goaltenders in ice time as he clocks an average of 24 minutes, 32 seconds.

Notes:

• Goaltender Tristan Jarry is scheduled to start Monday’s contest. In 24 games this season, Jarry has a 15-5-4 record, a 2.78 goals-against average, a .917 save percentage and one shutout.

• Penguins defenseman Chad Ruhwedel, sidelined for the past two games because of an undisclosed injury, is considered a “game-time decision” per Sullivan.

The right-handed Ruhwedel has played in 17 games and recorded one assist while averaging 13:10 of ice time this season.

• Sullivan ruled injured forward Josh Archibald and defenseman Jeff Petry out for the contest. Archibald is on injured reserve because of an undisclosed ailment, and Petry is designated to long-term injured reserve with a suspected left arm injury.

• The Bruins are expected to start goaltender Linus Ullmark. In 24 games this season, Ullmark has a 20-1-1 record, a 1.90 GAA, a .938 save percentage and two shutouts.