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Kris Letang hospitalized after hit by Shane Doan

By Will Osgood

Jan 18, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) moves the puck against the New York Rangers during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Rangers won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) moves the puck against the New York Rangers during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Rangers won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Kris Letang was sent to the hospital Saturday night after a hit from the Coyotes’ Shane Doan in the second period. 

The Arizona Coyotes winger Shane Doan is universally known as one of the best people in the NHL. Kris Letang, meanwhile, is known to be susceptible to serious injuries. Saturday night the two met in the second period, when Doan cross-checked Letang after the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman cleared the puck out of his team’s zone.

Doan was simply making a “hockey play” by checking Letang to the ice. There clearly no intent to injure. But the result was Letang being taken to the hospital.

Letang was the victim of a hit by Philadelphia Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo in January, which netted the Flyer forward an eight-game suspension and cost Letang a single game away from the ice. Over the course of his career, Letang has suffered multiple concussions.

And even scarier, the 27-year-old suffered a stroke a year ago. Needless to say, Letang’s condition is quite fragile, especially given his history. It’s safe to say Letang–who has 11 goals and 43 assists this year–will miss Pittsburgh’s home game Sunday night against the San Jose Sharks, after coach Mike Johnston said he was being evaluated at a local Pittsburgh hospital where he would remain overnight.

Doan defended himself after the game to reporters, “I just went to make sure I got a piece of him so he couldn’t jump by me and he obviously went in the boards awkward.”

Doan though showed he was distraught over the episode, “You never want to see anyone like that, especially a guy with his caliber and everything that he’s went through in the past couple years.”

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