Defenseman Jan Rutta has been placed on long-term injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 14 and forward Kasperi Kapanen has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 18.
Letang, 35, leads all Penguins defensemen this season with 16 points (2G-14A) in 29 games and averages a team-high 24:32 minutes of ice time per game. The defenseman recorded four points (1G-3A) in his last six games prior to getting injured on Dec. 28 against Detroit. He enters tonight's game on the verge of becoming just the seventh player in franchise history to record 400 even-strength points (399 EVP), and just the third active defenseman to do so (Brent Burns, 502; Erik Karlsson, 452).
The 6-foot, 201-pound Letang, who is in his 17th season with the Penguins, has recorded 146 goals, 520 assists and 666 points in 970 career games. The six-time NHL All Star owns every single significant team record for a blueliner in the regular season and playoffs.
The Penguins return to action tonight as they host the Florida Panthers at PPG Paints Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM.
