Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin (8) shoves Pittsburgh Penguins Kris Letang (58) during the first period of Game 3 in an NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference semifinals in Pittsburgh, Monday, May 2, 2016. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
May 02, 2016 - 7:15 PM
PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Penguins may be forced to play without Kris Letang when their first round series continues on Wednesday night.
Letang could be facing supplementary discipline for a hit to the head of Capitals winger Marcus Johansson in the first period of Game 3 on Monday night.
The 29-year-old, averaging almost 30 minutes a game in the playoffs, caught Johansson with an elbow to the head area just after Johansson released a pass as he entered the offensive zone.
Johansson laid face-down on the ice with little movement before the play was eventually whistled down. He was helped off the ice by a team trainer, returning for the start of the second period.
Letang was called for interference on the play.
Losing Letang to a potential suspension would badly hurt the Penguins, who played without injured 21-year-old defenceman Olli Maatta on Monday evening. Maatta was out with an upper-body injury, the result of a late hit from Capitals defenceman Brooks Orpik in Game 2.
Orpik was suspended three games, a punishment Washington head coach Barry Trotz thought to be harsh.
"I'm disappointed, but I'm not surprised based on who we're playing and all that," he said.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016