PITTSBURGH - It's difficult enough facing the likes of Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams when you have your two top defencemen in the lineup.
Just imagine trying to do it without them.
That's exactly the position Pittsburgh Penguins stud blueliner Kris Letang has left his team in for Game 4 against the high-powered Capitals Wednesday night, thanks to the one-game suspension levied on him Tuesday for his high head shot on Washington forward Marcus Johansson.
There is a realistic chance that fellow defenceman Olli Maatta also will be out after absorbing a shot to the chin from the Capitals' Brooks Orpik in Game 2 Saturday night.