Kris Letang suspended for Game 4 for hit on Marcus Johansson

The Pittsburgh Penguins will be down their best defenseman in Game 4 of the series against the Washington Capitals. Kris Letang has been suspended 1 game for interfering with Marcus Johansson.

Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang suspended 1 game for interference on Washington’s Marcus Johansson. Video: https://t.co/lSVEm2DQ0T

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 3, 2016

The Department of Safety bottom-lines it as "the combination of the lateness of this hit and the significant head contact that causes this hit to rise to the level of supplemental discipline".

Tough to argue that.

The Penguins lead the Caps 2 games to 1, with next game coming tomorrow night in Pittsburgh. Justin Schultz , who has not played since the opening game of the playoffs (and only got 5:52 of ice-time that night) is going to play next game, but certainly not to the extent Letang will.

The Pens other defenseman, Olli Maatta, remained sidelined today from the concussion he suffered as a result of a late hit by Brooks Orpik. Orpik was suspended 3 games and will be eligible to return Game 6, if necessary. However, with Letang out and Pittsburgh in a whole defensively, that game looks like it probably will be necessary.