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Report: Letang had surgery before Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final

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Seven years to the day since their last Stanley Cup win, the Penguins earned the right to raise Lord Stanley once again after beating the Sharks in Game 6, 3-1. Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang combined for the night's GWG.

So, remember when Kris Letang missed practice and then didn’t take part in media day before the start of the Stanley Cup Final? A bit unusual at the time.

Given the time of the season, virtually no details as to why were provided, so uncertainty about his status began to grow. The next day, Letang held a press conference prior to Game 1. Asked if he was playing, Letang was brief: “Yup.” Asked about any problems, he replied: “Nope.”

OK then.

Not only did the Penguins’ best defenseman play in Game 1 and the series, Letang was solid, with five points in six games as Pittsburgh claimed the Stanley Cup over the San Jose Sharks.

Since the victory, details of his aforementioned absence -- both brief and peculiar at the time -- have emerged.

Letang finished the playoffs with 15 points in 23 games, while averaging 28:52 of ice time for the Penguins. His point total finished second behind only Brent Burns for defensemen in the 2016 playoffs.