Letang Suspended 1 Game For Hit On Capitals' Johansson
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The Pittsburgh Penguins will be looking to push the Washington Capitals to the brink of elimination Wednesday night. However, they'll have to do it without Kris Letang.
This afternoon, Letang received a one-game suspension for his hit on Marcus Johansson during the first period of Game 3.
Pittsburgh's Kris Letang suspended 1 game for interference on Washington's Marcus Johansson. Video: https://t.co/lSVEm2DQ0T
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 3, 2016
Johansson went to the locker room after the hit, but returned for the second period and finished the game.
Letang gets only 2 mins for interference for this hit on Johnasson pic.twitter.com/gK8wppEsU0
— Stephanie (@myregularface) May 3, 2016
While there was "significant head contact," the NHL ruled that the principal point on contact was not Johansson's head.
They also determined that Letang did not leave his skates to deliver the hit.
The hit was made "outside the allowable window during which a player may finish a check."
Pittsburgh was up 2-0 when Letang delivered a high and late hit to Johansson entering the Penguins' zone.
Johansson stayed down momentarily and Letang was assessed a minor penalty for interference.
Letang becomes the second player to be suspended in this series for a late hit.
Brooks Orpik was suspended for three games for a hit he delivered to Olli Maatta in Game 2. He would be eligible to return in Game 6, if necessary.
Maatta did not return in the game and was unavailable for Game 3.
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