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Doan on Letang: ‘You feel awful as a player when something like that happens’

Nashville Predators v Phoenix Coyotes - Game One

GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 27: Shane Doan #19 of the Phoenix Coyotes warms up before Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Nashville Predators during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Jobing.com Arena on April 27, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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According to Josh Yohe, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang will remain in hospital overnight for observation.

Letang was hit by Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan late in the second period Saturday afternoon and needed assistance leaving the ice.

Doan, who didn’t receive a penalty on the play, said he was trying to finish his check on Letang.

“It’s awful. When it happened, I could tell the way he went into the boards… awkward. It’s just one of those… he’s so good, we talk about it, we’ve got to make sure he doesn’t jump by,” said Doan. “I just went to make sure I got a piece of him so he couldn’t jump by me. He obviously went into the boards awkwardly.

“We have to finish our checks on him. I didn’t mean to hit him in that… you know hit him to stop him from jumping by. You never ever want to see a guy like that, especially of his caliber. Obviously everything that he’s went through the last couple years, you never want to see that so you feel awful as a player when something like that happens.”

Needless to say the Penguins were not happy with the hit.

Steve Downie, who scored his 14th of the season in the win, dropped the gloves with Doan moments after the hit.

“That’s part of the game,” said Doan of Downie challenging him. “He’s such a character guy on their team, he’s a big part of their team, he scored the goal to make it 2-1 as well. That says a lot about him. That’s the type of guy you want on your team that stands up for your teammates, goes through the wall for his teammates. You hope that they do that for him too. That’s the way teams work. Obviously it’s a testament to his character.”

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