determined: letang's journey back to the ice - whiteboard

Practical facilities for penguins the UPMC Lemieux Sports Center is located in cranberry Town, a suburb of Pittsburgh.
On the evening of September 24, the Penguin defender traveled normally not far from his home.
It was his efforts hundreds of times over the past two years, as the complex was built in 2015 for practice and injury treatment.
But that day's drive is different from the past.
On that unusually warm and sunny day in September, LeTV's car was driving on Interstate 279.
A tense energy began to beat in him, and its strength grew with each mile.
The UPMC lemiea Stadium hosted the first-
NHL preseason between Penguin and St
Louis Bruce is part of Kraft Hawkville America.
The 30-year-old has played more than 700 professional NHL games in the past decade.
He plays on the biggest stage of the league.
Stanley Cup Final-
Three times.
So it seems strange that players like Ledon will feel nervous before the exhibition competition in September.
But this is not an ordinary exhibition game for the Music Hall.
This is his comeback.
Over the past seven months, LeTV has not played in the NHL, which dates back to February.
21 games in Carolina
After the game, Leon was excluded due to the disc protruding from the neck.
After trying to treat the injury, Le Tang underwent surgery in early April.
Next is a hard rehabilitation project.
Rehabilitation treatment has progressed slowly and steadily over the past seven months.
Often physically and mentally exhausted.
Many dark days, the music hall suffered.
But while the sun was already set when he drove to the UPMC, Lacon could finally see the light.
He is still a few hours away from playing his favorite game again.
"I'm excited and a little nervous," le don told the media the morning after penguin skating in the morning.
"I haven't played a real game for a while.
I look forward to it.
"This tension has intensified during these seven months, just as the ice hockey drop at 8 is getting closer and closer.
The music hall is so eager to play that he can't control his thoughts.
While he was away, even his previous instinctive habits were lost.
Le Tang used it before.
From the beginning of junior hockey, he started the game routine.
Suddenly, he couldn't remember.
"It's a little strange.
I wonder what I'm doing (seven)
"A few months ago," he said.
"I don't remember my routine on ice and warm --ups.
"In The Penguin locker room, a clock hangs above the whiteboard.
There is not much time for warmth to begin. ups.
Seconds feel like minutes, minutes feel like hours.
Lai Tang tied his gear, his skates, and the familiar old number. 58 jersey.
He looked down at his shoulder and saw a upside down
"A" stared at him.
The clock ticked until the last few minutes.
The whole team lined up in the corridor to ice.
Le Tang found his normal position in the team.
Several teammates showed a grateful smile to the music hall as they passed.
He thanked him.
Someone shouted, "Let's go, boys!
The line began to move.
Under the guidance of the goalkeeper, the Penguins boarded the ice. by-
In front of a crowded crowd.
Le Tang floated to the ice with his numb feet, and each step felt like a surreal dream until he finally reached the edge of the cliff.
His legs were stabbed quickly, allowing Ang's blade to cut into the ice.
Lecton glides on the ice in his signature loose pants
The straps floated behind in the wind.
It's a 154 day moment, a 7-
The expected accumulation of a month eventually led to a venting sprint of combustible forces.
This is the end of an extraordinary journey, a journey that some people suspect is possible.
When the Penguins announced on April 5 that LeTV would have surgery on his neck, the media used phrases such as "threatening the profession" and "never the same.
"But, in the Music Hall's view, he will not only come back, but will return to normal, which has never been in doubt --Star form.
The music hall knows this day will come
This can only be done with his determination.
The only problem is that it will come.
The answer to this question was in front of NBC Sports's national television audience in September 24.
LeTV is back and the hockey community has witnessed it all.
Lettang knew right away that something was wrong.
In the final of 2016 Eastern Conference, he was hit from behind by a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning team, after which he felt neck pain.
"I have a problem turning my neck.
"I can't look around," he said . ".
The next day, Leiden was able to reverse the situation, and the problems at the time were not enough to force him out of the lineup.
Not only did le Tang finish the playoffs in every game, he will eventually make it to the Stanley Cup --
Scored a goal in San Jose's sixth game.
During the offseason, Litang has the opportunity to rest the injury and recover the injury.
He has received various treatments and the problem seems to have subsided.
However, once the music hall begins physical training in the second year of training camp, the pain will soon recover.
"When I showed up at the camp last year, when I was hit again, it started to bother me," he said . ".
"We saw a bunch of things (I had to do)to get better.
Every month I try to get better.
"Le Tang visited several different doctors to find a solution to the problem.
But things haven't improved as the season continues.
In fact, the situation got worse because of the cumulative effect of his continuous hits throughout the year.
After Pittsburgh's February game in Carolina
On the 21st, the team decided to pull the music hall out of the lineup and tried to relieve the pain and give the injury a rest.
"It took us a month to heal it," Le Tang said . ".
"We have a rehabilitation program to stretch my spine.
Everything went well.
I feel much better.
"Ledon feels much better. he decided it was time to come back.
He discussed the matter with the medical staff, only a few days from the date he chose.
"I don't feel well in the gym," Le Tang said.
"We did another test and the results showed that I had a big problem that needed an emergency surgery.
"What's even more frustrating is that Le Tang is coming back soon.
"It's hard because I'm very close," he said . "
"I told them on Tuesday that I wanted to play on Saturday.
Then on Wednesday or Thursday, I started to feel unwell.
That's where we found it.
It's really frustrating.
Another problem occurred, according to an MRI doctor.
Thankfully, they caught it in time.
"Suddenly we had another problem," Le Tang said.
"If I play it again, it can get more damage.
We were lucky we caught it.
I'm lucky I have great doctors around me.
"The medical staff decided to operate immediately --
Within a month.
It is necessary to avoid permanent damage.
"The doctor gave me no choice.
They told me that we need to find a surgeon. that's it . "
"It's terrible to go through this type of surgery.
"On April 13, the Penguin opened the second day of the playoffs in the first game against the Columbus Blue Jacket, and the Music Hall underwent a successful operation.
There is no doubt that the most difficult part of Letang's journey is the postsurgery.
He was in great pain, again, because it was locked in the collar and he could not turn his head.
Even simple daily tasks like using a restroom or eating are difficult and driving is not allowed.
"When I wake up (from surgery)it was hard.
"The first two weeks were tough," Le Tang said.
"There's a lot in your head.
"The first few days were very difficult.
It's more spiritual.
"In those dark early days and throughout his recovery, his side was Catherine, his wife.
When Chris is in bed, she is in the hospital every day and sometimes she sleeps in his room.
Once Ledon is out of the hospital, Catherine has to accompany him wherever he needs to go, whether to see a doctor or to a restaurant for dinner.
"My wife is very important to me.
She did a lot and took care of everything . "
"Sleep in my room.
Make sure I have everything I need.
She drove me everywhere.
Trying to distract me.
She's really helpful.
I'm glad I had her.
"For Chris and Catherine, this is not just a mental burden. Their 4-year-
Alex, the old son, did not understand what had happened.
"On the street, he would ask a lot of random people, 'Did you hurt my father's father? '"
"He noticed that I really couldn't move.
He wants to bring me something.
"Catherine and Alex are, like anyone else, part of the Ledon recovery.
"When they are with me, they are the happy moments of my day," Le Tang said.
"It's good to have them.
"The rehabilitation of Le Tang is a long and slow process, full of markers, numerous visits, small steps.
The first step is to get out of the collar and have the ability to move around your neck again.
But most of the time, Ledon was just resting on his injury.
After medical examination, le let go back to the gym and start riding a fixed bike. It wasn't much.
But at least so.
This is also a very-
The blue sailor needs spiritual comfort.
"I won't tell you when I get out of the operating room, I thought I 'd be back soon," said Leiden.
"But when I started working out and felt more like I was on the ice, I felt much better.
"The Music Hall is still very limited in the early days.
He is not allowed to do anything jumping, running, lifting weights, overhead activities or anything that adds weight to his shoulders.
He often goes to New York to attend MRIs and CTs.
After each successful visit, another step at the gym.
In July, Letang ski for the first time.
But the last obstacle came. 5.
When he was allowed to contact
Le Tang started the team's training camp with the participation of the whole team.
After a week of dealing with physical contact, the doctor gave Ledon their blessing to get them back on the ice.
"The good thing now is that he may be healthier than ever and it feels good to be in this season," said general manager Jim Rutherford at the cutting edge of training camp.
"I expect Chris to spend the best year he has ever had.
"For the Lecton, they are relieved and excited when the team is back on their defensive defense of winning the Stanley Cup for the second time in a row.
The worst thing is behind him.
"It's been too long," Le Tang sighed as he recalled the process, "but I'm glad everything is fine now.
"Penguins and Blues players stand on the ice at the ulpmc Lemieux Sports Center, like the United StatesS.
Singing the national anthem.
Le Dang lowered his head and his long dark hair covered his face and closed his eyes.
This is a quiet moment of thinking.
Five months ago, he was lying in a hospital bed, weak and painful.
The memories of his journey are still fresh, the setbacks of slow progress, the prosperity of small achievements, the long exercise and treatment in the gym, through his struggle, numerous visits and family support.
All of this has reached a climax at this moment, and the only thing the music hall can feel is gratitude.
After the game, he said: "I am very happy to stay on the ice for a while . ".
"It's been a while.
I'm just happy to play the game I like outside.
"As he watched the puck fall into the center ice from the official hands, this intense energy has been in Leon's body for a whole day, reaching its peak. St.
Louis won the game and retreated to his own turf.
A low pass led to a mistake where the winger had a chance to score.
However, Guentzel's shot hit the post.
The game took six seconds.
The blue cleaning attempt was caught by a pinch of music hall on the wall.
He played the ice hockey to Guentzel in the corner.
This is LeTV's first hockey game in seven months.
Let's change the line for the substitute.
By that time, the nerves had dissipated.
The past seven months have disappeared from the background.
The rest is the game.
"The first period was like putting my toes in the water," Leiden said . ".
"Everything went well after that.
I can get my time back more.
"I feel a little tight on my heels sometimes.
But back soon.
"The Music Hall goes through the normal movements of the game: skating, passing, shooting, decision making, positioning, hitting.
In the past seven months, the performance of the music hall has been erased by history.
"It doesn't look like he missed any step," observed the defense team.
"He looks great outside.
It looks like he can play 40 minutes if he wants.
This is his talent and effort. ""It's great.
He is a very important member of this team . "
"He is a great asset to this team.
Watch him play, get back there, soak his feet wet with some real game action, not just something between teams, real shots, real games.
I think he's doing a very good job.
I think he plays well.
"The Music Hall is the undisputed leader of the team's defensive players and their biggest main force.
He recorded an average of 25-
Over the last three seasons, each game has been played with a few minutes, a career.
26: 56 per game on 2015-16.
Ledon has always been aiming to be a player he used to be.
More than 25 minutes a game can be played in all cases-
Even power, power, and penalty kicks.
Leiden has accomplished all these goals against the Blues.
This proves his commitment, professional ethics and training, and he is able to come back in such a good state and state.
But the most important thing is there.
"I'm really happy to have fun outside," Le Tang said . ".
"I had surgery five months ago and it was a cool thing. It was fun.
After the game, Le Tang sat in his locker.
The media flocked.
He answered their questions with an honest and sincere smile.
The media continued to move forward, leaving only the music hall.
He took off his equipment and hung everything as carefully as he had done in the past decade.
Over the past seven months, LeTV has stepped out of the locker room.
It marks the end of a journey, the beginning of a new journey.
"The first step is not allowed," LeDon said. "I can focus on playing my game now.
"It's open again now.