Penguins All-Star Kris Letang led all NHL defensemen in scoring during the month of January, earning him ‘Third Star’ of the month honors.
Letang finished January with 14 points (3G-11A) in 10 games, three points ahead of a trio of fellow All-Stars, the Flames’ Mark Giordano, Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson and the Canadiens’ P.K. Subban.
Most importantly, Letang’s high-scoring exploits helped Pittsburgh jump into eighth place in the Eastern Conference, just one point behind the New York Islanders, who sit in sixth place in the conference and in third place in the Metropolitan Division. Pittsburgh began January sitting outside the playoff bubble in a tie for 10th place in the conference.