Penguins defenseman Chad Ruhwedel returns to the lineup in Kris Letang's absence

BOSTON — Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang took a leave of absence from the team to attend to his family in Montreal following the death of his father, Claude Fouquet.

Coach Mike Sullivan announced Letang’s status Monday approximately two hours before the Penguins were scheduled to face the Boston Bruins at Fenway Park for the NHL’s Winter Classic.

The right-handed Letang was not expected to play in the game because of an undisclosed injury that sidelined him in the Penguins’ most recent game, a 4-2 home loss to the New Jersey Devils on Friday.

With regard to his injury, Letang has been labeled as “day to day.”

The 2022-23 season has been trying for Letang. Most notably, he missed five games in late November and early December after a stroke, the second of his career.

In 29 games this season, Letang leads the team’s defensemen with 16 points (two goals, 14 assists). He also leads the team’s non-goaltenders in ice time as he clocks an average of 24 minutes, 32 seconds.

Ruhwedel returns

Penguins defenseman Chad Ruhwedel, also a right-hander, returned to the lineup after missing the past two games because of an undisclosed injury.

That led to the Penguins deploying an irregular lineup with 11 forwards and seven defensemen.

Forward Ryan Poehling was scratched due to an undisclosed injury while forward Drew O’Connor was a healthy scratch.

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan declined to elaborate as to the motivation for that decision.

The opportunity to play in Fenway Park offered significance to Ruhwedel, who played collegiately with Massachusetts-Lowell, approximately a half hour to the northwest of Boston.

“It’s a very cool experience,” Ruhwedel said. “Different. Obviously, weather plays a big part. But it’s just got a different feel. Hockey’s got a long history of playing outside. So it’s awesome to be a part of any event like this.”

In addition to Poehling, forward Josh Archibald (undisclosed injury) and Drew O’Connor (healthy) were scratches.

Pittsburgh falls again at Fenway

The Penguins’ loss continued a trend of mostly futility for Pittsburgh teams at Fenway Park. All-time, Pittsburgh squads are 7-17-0 at the famed venue.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 4-12 all-time at Fenway Park, their last victory being a 2-0 triumph June 18, 2005 against the Boston Red Sox.

Pitcher Rick White recorded the win after relieving starter David Williams. Closer Jose Mesa recorded the save. RBIs were recorded by catcher Humberto Cota and designated hitter Ryan Doumit.

That was also their only victory against the Red Sox as a visitor. All-time, they are 1-5 in road games against the Red Sox.

In the early 20th century, they played a handful of games against the Boston Braves, now located in Atlanta. During the 1914 and 1915 seasons, the Pirates went 3-7 against the Braves who were forced to play games at Fenway Park due to seating limitations at their facility, Braves Field.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers are 3-5 all-time at the venue.

The first four contests took place in the 1930s. Then also known as the Pirates, they faced off against the Boston Redskins, a franchise that is now the Washington Commanders, four times, going 1-3.

Their first victory at Fenway Park came in their first season, a 16-14 win Oct. 29, 1933.

A pair of touchdown passes by quarterback Paul Holm to end Paul Moss (30 yards) and running back Ed Westfall (60 yards) as well as a 21-yard field goal by lineman Paul “Tiny” Engebretsen propelled the Pirates to the third win in franchise history.

During the 1940s, the Steelers faced the now defunct Boston Yanks four times, going 2-2.

They enjoyed a 33-7 victory on Oct. 27, 1946 thanks to two touchdowns by Hall of Fame running back “Bullet” Bill Dudley, one on a 23-yard lateral and the other being an 80-yard reception.

Their most recent win at Fenway Park was a 30-14 triumph on Oct. 12, 1947. A pair of one-yard touchdown runs by running back Steve Lach, a native of Altoona, helped the cause that day.