Kris Letang will not be playing in the final game of the season. He has undergone another surgery most other players aren’t having

Penguins defenseman Kris Letang underwent successful surgery to close a patent foramen ovale (PFO, a small hole in the heart).

The expected recovery time is four to six weeks.https://t.co/OBIHf6RlSs

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 16, 2025

There aren’t many details other than the 4-6 week recovery. It seems as it is a “routine” surgery as far as routine surgeries go for the heart. Here’s what the University of Pennsylvania has to say about the procedure

A PFO closure is a structural heart disease treatment to close a small hole called a foramen ovale between the upper two heart chambers (atria). Everyone is born with this hole, which keeps blood from circulating to the lungs before a baby is born. Usually, this hole closes shortly after birth, when a baby's lungs begin functioning.

A patent foramen ovale occurs when the hole doesn't seal as it should. Most PFOs don't need to be closed. Most PFOs cause no symptoms or complications. Larger PFOs may cause stroke. People with symptomatic or large PFOs may benefit from a procedure to close the hole.

Kris Letang has been through a lot and there’s been more of these kinds of things happening than to any other player I can think of. Best wishes to Kris in his recovery from this latest procedure.

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Not a lot of help to be had in the standings last night for the Penguins. The Sabres, Flyers, Kraken, and Ducks all lost last night. The Penguins will not get a top five pick unless they pull the right lottery ball for either the first or second overall pick. The odds aren’t high, but the door is still open for them to drop outside the top ten in the draft.

The reason that door is still open is because the Ducks blew their one goal lead with 20 seconds left against the Minnesota Wild. If the Ducks had earned the full two points the Penguins wouldn’t be able to drop below them. Now a Penguins win on Thursday and a Ducks loss in game 82 and the Penguins move up the standings past them. A lot of empty calorie wins down the stretch for Pittsburgh.

Silver lining is that the bonus point locked up the playoffs for Minnesota and afforded the opportunity for a goalie switch in overtime to get a certain someone one last crack at a win

we have a sprawling 2 pad stack & a post tap from fleury pic.twitter.com/lNpk1ZobHu

— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) April 16, 2025

A very proper regular season sendoff for Marc-Andre Fleury from the Wild and the Minnesota crowd

#mnwild

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— Hockey Daily 365 - NHL Highlights & News 🏒 (@hockeydaily365.bsky.social) April 15, 2025 at 10:56 PM

Members of the Ducks lined up to shake Marc-Andre Fleury's hand, with the Minnesota crowd chanting 'Fleury' along the way 🌸

What a moment after his final regular season game 👏

#mnwild

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— Hockey Daily 365 - NHL Highlights & News 🏒 (@hockeydaily365.bsky.social) April 15, 2025 at 10:55 PM

Here’s a look at the standings. Regulation wins and then total wins are the tie breaker.

The Ducks play their last game tonight and then tomorrow the Flyers are actually playing the Sabres. If the Flyers were to beat the Sabres in overtime *and* the Penguins lose in regulation both teams would pass them and leave the Penguins in the sixth slot prior to the lottery balls.

Thanks for reading!

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