Letang on suspension: 'I respect the decision'

Neither Kris Letang nor the Penguins were complaining about the NHL suspending him one game for his check on the Capitals' Marcus Johansson in Game 3 Monday.

"I respect it," Letang said Wednesday morning after the team's skate, marking his first public comment on the matter. "The game, it happens so fast. There's a lot of things going on that they have to look at. I respect the decision. I have no choice but to wait."

Game 4 Wednesday night is the only one he'll miss.

Immediately after Game 3, Letang said he hadn't seen the replay of the hit. Asked Wednesday if he'd seen one since then and if it altered his stance that he didn't intend to injure, he replied, "No. I tried to step up on the guy. There's no issue, no intent there. If you look at it, I (strode) in front of him. The result was what the result was."

Here's the full session:





The Capitals appeared to bite their tongues on the suspension, at least publicly, as there was much anger about it behind the scenes. They felt the league should have weighed it the same as Brooks Orpik's three-game suspension for his check on Olli Maatta in Game 2.

"The league dealt with it, he's not playing today, and we'll try to take advantage of them missing a terrific defenseman," was all coach Barry Trotz would offer on the topic.

Regardless of viewpoints, what matters most for Game 4 -- to both sides -- is that Letang will be out. Especially to the Penguins.

"It's certainly tough to replace a guy who has that much of an influence on our team," Sullivan said. "But we believe we have depth, and we'll spread his minutes among the group and put guys into positions we feel are their strengths. ... It'll be a committee approach. I don't think anyone will try to be Kris Letang."

"We've missed players through the year. We missed Geno for a long time," Letang said, referring to Evgeni Malkin. "Guys step up. Our guys will rise to the occasion."