NHL Playoffs: Penguins’ Kris Letang suspended one game for interference

Penguins defenseman Kris Letang has been suspended one game for interference on Capitals forward Marcus Johansson during Game 3. 

Game 3 of the second round series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals got a bit feisty early on as Penguins defenseman Kris Letang hit Capitals forward Marcus Johansson high late in the first period and caused Johnasson to have to go to the locker room. Letang received a two minute minor for interference on the play. The NHL Department of Player Safety has announced that Letang will be suspended one game as supplemental discipline for the infraction.

In its video, the Department of Player Safety notes Letang makes a late hit, as Johansson got rid of the puck 0.63 seconds before getting hit. While the video notes that Johansson was hit high and that there was a lot of head contact, the head was not the principal point of contact. Letang also did not commit charging as they decided that his skates stayed on the ice through the contact and only left the ice due to momentum. His history played a role in his suspension as he has been suspended one time in his career. The Department of Player Safety notes that Johansson was not injured on the play and returned to the ice for the second period, which played a role in the suspension as well.

If the NHL wants to get these kinds of hits out of the game, it’s time that they start punishing the process and stop focusing so hard on the result. One game is better than none, but this kind of hit should warrant a suspension of at least two playoff games.

For more coverage of the NHL Playoffs, check out our NHL hub page.