Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang has hit the ground running under the direction of new coach Mike Sullivan.
Letang has collected two goals and six assists in his four games in the lineup since Sullivan replaced former coach Mike Johnston. Selected as the NHL's Third Star of the Week on Monday, the 28-year-old Quebec native's recent play has impressed Sullivan as the Penguins attempt to get back on track in the Metropolitan Division.
Via Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
"When Kris is in our lineup ... you can see the impact he has on the game. He has the ability to beat forecheckers single-handedly. He has the ability to move the puck because he sees the ice so well, which allows our guys to get the puck with motion coming through the neutral zone. When he's playing that way, I think he has a huge influence on the type of team that we have."
Sullivan has been thrilled with the last two performances, as Letang has turned in back-to-back three-point efforts for the second time in his career. The blue-liner scored two goals and set up another in a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday and notched three assists two nights later in a 5-2 triumph over the New York Islanders.
THIRD STAR: @Letang_58 led all defensemen with 2-4—6 in 3 GP last week to propel @Penguins to five out of a possible six standings points.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 4, 2016
Letang has recorded three tallies and 19 assists in 29 contests this season for Pittsburgh (19-15-4), which is 18-8-3 with the defenseman in the lineup.
The Penguins certainly will have Letang set to go on Tuesday in the the front leg of a home-and-home series versus the visiting Chicago Blackhawks. Pittsburgh will then open a four-game road trip in the Windy City on Wednesday.
