Penguins activate Kris Letang from LTIR ahead of game against Panthers

Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Kris Letang. (Winslow Townson/AP)

Defenceman Kris Letang has been activated from long-term injured reserve, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Tuesday.

The move comes hours ahead of a game against the visiting Florida Panthers, which can be seen at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on Sportsnet. The veteran defenceman is expected to be in the lineup for the clash.

Letang, 35, has not played since suffering a lower-body injury on Dec. 28.

The Penguins placed defenceman Jan Rutta on LTIR, retroactive to Jan. 14, and forward Kasperi Kapenen on injured reserve, retroactive to Jan. 18.

The 35-year-old Letang has had a difficult season, suffering a stroke in late November. His father passed away earlier this month, prompting the entire Penguins team to alter travel plans so that they could attend the funeral in Montreal.

Letang has two goals and 14 assists this season, which leads the team’s defencemen in points, while averaging 24:32 minutes of ice time per game. He is playing in his 17th season with Pittsburgh.

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