Kris Letang gets emotional after scoring OT winner in his first game since his father’s death

It felt like Pittsburgh Penguins’ Kris Letang was unstoppable last night. Just activated off injured reserve earlier in the day, Letang scored two goals in Tuesday’s 7-6 overtime win over the Florida Panthers, including the power-play winner in a crazy game.

Letang had been sidelined with a lower-body injury since Dec. 28, but also spent time in his native Montreal during his absence following the death of his father earlier this month. The entire team flew to meet and support him at his father’s funeral and on Tuesday when Letang netted the game-winning goal, you could tell how happy his teammates were for him.

Letang celebrated right away in the arms of captain and close friend Sidney Crosby and then, all of his teammates were joining in a huge hug, rubbing his head and patting him on the back. Letang became visibly emotional at the poetic outcome of the game, looking in disbelief at his performance in his first game back since his father’s passing.

It’s been a difficult season for Letang, who signed a six-year contract extension with the Penguins over the summer and has just posted four goals and 16 assists in 30 games. However, last night was an added boost of confidence: Letang also tied Erik Karlsson for the most overtime points by a defenseman in NHL history (31) with his tally. Letang also got the feeling that his teammates have his back - and some could say - that his father was looking down on him, with the best seat in the house for his son’s four-point night against the Panthers.

I’m not crying - you are!

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