Penguins’ Kris Letang Gets No Penalty After Slashing Rangers’ Viktor Stalberg

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang lay a nasty hit on New York Rangers winger Viktor Stalberg in Game 3 of the playoff series on Tuesday night, which the Penguins won 3-1.

Penguins’ Kris Letang Gets No Penalty After Slashing Rangers’ Viktor Stalberg

After being hit hard into the boards by the Rangers’ Dominic Moore with about 12:50 left in the third period, Letang lifted his stick and hit Stalberg in the throat.

Play was stopped a few seconds after the hit, which forced Stalberg to skate toward the Rangers bench to rest. No penalty was assessed on the play. The reasons behind the NHL’s decision to not punish Letang in any way are tied to the fact that the hit was ruled as an accident and not intentional.

After the check from Moore, Letang becomes off-balance, both his skates coming off the ice as he raises his stick and hits Stalberg. The NHL believes that Letang’s left glove (or the end of his stick) catches a stanchion on the glass. The hit by Moore then causes him to twist and send his stick right into Stalberg’s neck.

The Penguins now lead the series 2-1.

PHOTO: PITTSBURGH, PA – APRIL 13: Kris Letang #58 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in action in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the New York Rangers at Consol Energy Center on April 13, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)