PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins activated veteran defenseman Kris Letang off injured reserve, clearing the best way for him to play Tuesday evening in opposition to the Florida Panthers.
The 35-year-old Letang has been out since sustaining a lower-body damage throughout an time beyond regulation loss to Detroit on Dec. 28. He hung out in his native Montreal throughout his absence following the dying of his father earlier this month.
It has been a troublesome season for Letang, who signed a six-year contract extension with the Penguins over the summer season and has two objectives and 14 assists in 29 video games. Letang missed two weeks in November and December after struggling a stroke for the second time in eight years.
Pittsburgh is hoping his return can present a lift. The Penguins, who’ve reached the playoffs 16 straight seasons — the longest energetic postseason streak in main North American group sports activities — entered Tuesday within the eighth and closing playoff spot within the Japanese Convention.
The Panthers, too, are combating to remain in competition for the postseason, a yr after racing to the No. 1 seed within the Japanese Convention. Florida is on the again and of back-to-back video games, having misplaced to the New York Rangers on Monday, so the Penguins might be able to capitalize on a drained group.
Additionally Tuesday, the Penguins positioned defenseman Jan Rutta on long-term injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 14 and put ahead Kasperi Kapanen on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 18.
The Related Press contributed to this report.