TAMPA, Fla. — The gloves came off and the fists flew on Thursday night at Amalie Arena.
Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, who hadn’t sparred since the 2018 postseason, met the challenge when Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point attempted to spark his club in the dying seconds of the first period. The bout between two cruiserweights likely would have been scored as a split decision, with the 200-pound Letang and 183-pound Point each landing a few punches.
But in the main event – a heavyweight showdown between two recent back-to-back Cup champions – the Penguins put the Lightning on the ropes early and kept on swinging in one of their more-complete and impressive wins of the season.
