Penguins' Letang, 35, returns after second stroke

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang returned to the lineup connected Saturday conscionable 12 days aft suffering the 2nd changeable of his vocation connected Nov. 28.

Penguins manager Mike Sullivan antecedently announced Letang was "available" to gully successful against the Buffalo Sabres aft a five-game lack and would yet beryllium a game-time decision.

Letang returns to a streaking Penguins nine that is connected a 12-2-2 tally and is hosting Buffalo connected the backmost extremity of back-to-back games. On Friday night, the Penguins outlasted the Sabres, 4-3.

Letang, 35, who has 1 extremity and 12 points successful 21 games, was capable to resume practicing Thursday and said helium felt "pretty good." It was a quicker turnaround than what Letang experienced successful 2014, erstwhile helium was sidelined astir 2 months and 26 games pursuing the archetypal stroke.

In some instances, a tiny spread successful Letang's bosom caused the issue. But the 2nd changeable -- precipitated by debilitating headaches and nausea -- was indicated by Pittsburgh's squad doc Dr. Dharmesh Vyas to beryllium "much smaller" than the first.

While it was a alleviation for the Penguins to spot Letang astatine Thursday's session, Vyas said astatine the clip determination was nary hurry for Letang to get backmost successful a game.

"We don't deliberation this is accelerated successful immoderate way," Vyas said. "We are taking each the close precautions to marque definite that it is harmless to spell retired and play, and erstwhile that clip comes, we'll fto him spell backmost to playing his sport."

The biggest interest for Letang -- a joined begetter of 2 -- has been his family. He said going done the acquisition a 2nd clip was "scary" and prioritizing his family's corporate steadfast aboriginal was the priority.

"My kids, they don't attraction if I'm a hockey subordinate oregon not," Letang said connected Thursday. "They attraction astir having a dad.

"Same with my wife. She could attraction little astir hockey. She knows there's truthful overmuch more. After hockey, there's a agelong time, and you privation to beryllium capable to bask those moments with your family, with your kids."

Letang signed a six-year declaration hold past summertime that should instrumentality him to the extremity of his vocation successful Pittsburgh. Vyas said it's unclear if Letang is much susceptible to strokes moving forward, truthful the defenseman is prepared for immoderate outcomes mightiness beryllium ahead.

"Me and Dharmesh person a wide understanding," Letang said, "that we're going to instrumentality each the clip we request and marque definite the probe is imaginable and it's nary information for maine to support going."