Coaches, players weigh in on if Letang hit deserves suspension

Kris Letang talks about his hit on Marcus Johansson in Game 3. Courtesy: CSN-MA

There was mixed reaction in both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals locker-rooms following Game 3 of their second round playoff series on whether defenceman Kris Letang should be suspended for a hit on Marcus Johansson.

The Penguins defender struck Johansson with a high hit in the first period on Monday. Letang received a minor interference penalty on the play while Johansson stayed on the ice briefly before coming back to the game in the second.

Ovechkin mentions three games as a possible suspension — the same amount that Capitals teammate Brooks Orpik received for a Game 2 hit to the head on Pittsburgh’s Olli Maatta.

The victim in this situation, Johansson, agreed with his captain.

It was a different story for the Penguins, who won the game 3-2 and took a 2-1 series advantage, with coach Mike Sullivan defending his star player.

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