Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang returned to the lineup during Thursday’s home contest against the rival Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena after missing four games following a positive test for covid-19.

The team activated Letang from the NHL’s list of covid-19 protocol Thursday afternoon, and he opened the game on the team’s top pairing with Mike Matheson.

Entering Thursday, Letang had played in four games and recorded four assists while logging a team-leading 26 minutes, 8 seconds of average ice time per contest.

Assistant coach Todd Reirden indicated efforts would be made to monitor Letang’s deployment considering he was bed-ridden with significant symptoms during his isolation.

“He’s obviously a phenomenal athlete and in tremendous shape,” Reirden said via video conference before the game. “That being said, this virus affects people differently. The fact that he’s been symptomatic is something that we’re going to monitor during the game and see how he does. Through practices, he’s been able to take on a little bit more each day, and we’re hoping that’s the case this evening as well. He’s obviously a big part of our team.”

Letang’s return came a day after his typical partner, Brian Dumoulin, was placed into isolation following a positive test for covid-19.

That forced a union of Letang and Matheson. According Natural Stat Trick, they had all of 55 seconds of common five-on-five ice time together this season before Thursday.

“Certainly, (Dumoulin and Letang) proven their value for years to this organization and had a ton of success together, Reirden said. “It certainly would have been nice to have them both back. I know they were both looking forward to it when Kris came back to practice after his 10 days (in isolation). But this is the world that we’re living in right now within our game and reacting accordingly on a day-to-day basis and making sure that we do everything we can to control what we can control. And that’s trying to be the best hockey player, the best hockey coach, the best team that we can be day in and day out with whatever challenges come our way. This is just another challenge.

“(Thursday), Kris won’t have Brian, but I think we’ll start with him and Mike Matheson and use them in a fashion to be able to defend against the opposition’s top players and again, evaluate Kris as he goes along as far as how he’s feeling health wise.”

Fedun recalled

The Penguins recalled defenseman Taylor Fedun from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL).

In seven AHL games this season, the 33-year-old Fedun has recorded three assists while serving as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s captain.

The Penguins signed the right-handed Fedun to a one-year, two-way contract worth $750,000 this past offseason. During the NHL preseason, Fedun appeared in two games and had no points.

In 127 career NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks and Dallas Stars, Fedun (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) has scored 35 points (eight goals, 27 assists). His most recent NHL games came during the 2020 postseason with the Stars.

During the 2020-21 season, Fedun was on the Stars’ roster but did not play in any NHL games as he was primarily on the team’s taxi squad.

Fedun was a healthy scratch during Thursday’s game along with forward Sam Lafferty.

Follow the Penguins all season long.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)