Kris Letang bookended the holiday break with a pair of really great offensive performances to help the Pittsburgh Penguins secure three of a possible four points.
Thanks to his hard work on both sides of the puck, the Penguins top defenseman was chosen as the NHLPA’s player of the week.
In his last two games, Letang has scored nine points (1G-8A) with eight of them coming at even strength and five of his assists coming in a single record setting period.
Against the New York Islanders, Letang recorded six even strength assists with five of them coming in the second frame.
Letang’s five assists in that period marked a couple of different records, both in Penguins and NHL history.
It was the most assists ever recorded in a single period in Penguins franchise history and the first defenseman to ever do it in NHL history.
With an assist in the final period against the Islanders, Letang knotted the franchise record for most assists in a single game and the NHL record for assists by a defenseman in a game.
Even in the contest prior to the Islanders blowout, Letang was a key skater for the Penguins.
Letang recorded three points and his one goal came at the perfect time seal a huge third period comeback.
With under three minutes to play against the Ottawa Senators, Letang scored his third goal of the season to secure overtime.
Letang is playing at a Norris Trophy level pace and is deserving of this acknowledgment from the players association.
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