Penguins’ Kris Letang out Tuesday vs. Hurricanes with illness

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

Pittsburgh Penguins star defenceman Kris Letang is out of the lineup Tuesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes due to illness.

Letang is averaging a team-leading 23:54 minutes per game this season, his 17th with the club, and has 12 points — one goal and 11 assists — through 21 games.

The 35-year-old from Montreal, who was drafted in the third round (63rd overall) by Pittsburgh in 2005, signed a six-year, $36.6 million contract extension in July.

The Penguins entered Tuesday’s contest fourth in the Metropolitan Division with an 11-8-3 record.

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