Letang Told It’s Not Risky to Continue NHL Career After Second Stroke

The Penguins are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and sitting in a playoff spot this morning. But that isn’t close to the most compelling NHL story in Pittsburgh these days.

Kris Letang’s return to the Pittsburgh lineup Saturday 12 days after suffering his second stroke seems just short of miraculous. He missed only five games after his diagnosis and looked very much like the player we’ve seen for 17 seasons.

Playing 22:14, Letang posted seven hits, three blocked shots and two penalty minutes in a 3-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres.

The Penguins are home to play the Dallas Stars tonight and it’s presumed Letang will be in the lineup again. Letang’s return comes in the middle of a Penguins’ surge. They are 13-2-2 over 17 games. 

Letang, 35, suffered his first stroke in 2014. Dr. Darmesh Vyas, the Penguins’ team physician, said his second stroke was less severe. His symptoms dissipated quicker. 

Vyas said Letang’s return was not “accelerated in any way.”  Vyas doesn’t believe it is risky for Letang to continue his career. 

“We are taking all precautions to make sure he can go out to play,” Vyas told KDKA.   

The strokes were caused by a small hole in Letang’s heart. It happens to many people, but the hole usually closes up. It didn't in Letang’s case.

Letang is married and has two children. Letang said he doesn’t want to do anything that jeopardizes his future with his family.

🎩 Rantanen's fifth career hat trick ends the Avalanche's three-game losing streak. Mikko Rantanen opened the scoring in the first, tied the game with less than 10 seconds remaining in the third, and needed all of 29 seconds in overtime to complete his hat trick (watch all three goals here) and the Avs 3-2 comeback win over the St. Louis Blues.

🖐 William Nylander collects five points in Leafs' 5-4 victory Saturday. The 26-year-old forward leads all Leafs with 17 goals and is on pace for 48 goals and 93 points this season, which would crush his personal bests of 34 goals and 80 points set last season.

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