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Penguins' Letang spending the night in hospital after late hit by Coyotes' Doan

Charles LeClaire / USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang required assistance getting off the ice and down the tunnel after being shaken up by a hard hit from Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan. 

A few feet from the boards, Letang attempted to step around the oncoming Doan after releasing the puck, but was driven backwards by the contact. He landed hard on his back side and appeared to hit his head off the boards. 

Doan late hit on Letang. #Pens #ARIvsPIT

He appeared dazed as he sat up and after several moments being tended to, Letang left the ice with the help of his teammates.

After the game, head coach Mike Johnston said Letang was taken to hospital for evaluation. He will remain there overnight and the team will know more on Sunday morning.

"I didn't mean to hit him (like) that," Doan said after the game. "I hit him just to stop him from jumping by (me). You never ever want to see anybody (get hit) like that.

"You feel awful as a player when something like that happens, (but) it is what it is."

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