Kris Letang has been suspended two games for boarding Alexander Burmistrov of the Winnipeg Jets in the first period of a game between the Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night.
Kris Letang Suspended Two Games For Hit On Alexander Burmistrov
Penguins defenseman Kris Letang was suspended two games for a boarding infraction.
Letang clearly shoved Burmistrov from behind on the play, picking up a two-minute minor for boarding.
Despite the assurances of the Pittsburgh-based broadcast crew there, Letang was indeed suspended and it's certainly understandable within the rules. NHL discipline chief Brendan Shanahan explained his decision in a video posted Tuesday afternoon, saying that Letang delivered the check with force despite realizing that he was hitting Burmistrov in the numbers.
Shanahan also noted that Letang’s prior history, which includes a fine for a similar hit, played into the decision. Here’s the full explanation video from the NHL:
For more on the hit and the impact of losing Letang, the team’s best defenseman, for two games, check in with our friends at SB Nation Pittsburgh and Penguins blog Pensburgh.
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