Letang goes unpunished for slash on Stalberg

NEW YORK — If Viktor Stalberg tries to utter the phrase, “Where’s the justice?,” he might find himself lisping while formulating the words.

That’s because the New York Rangers forward had three teeth knocked out courtesy of a slash to his throat from the stick of Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Kris Letang during Pittsburgh’s 3-1 victory on Tuesday. According to the Rangers, they were his real, natural choppers — no caps or dentures.

No penalty was called on the play. Nor will the NHL seek any disciplinary action, a decision that the Rangers accept, albeit don’t necessarily agree with.

“We might feel that it seems deliberate,” New York coach Alain Vigneault said Wednesday. “The NHL doesn’t see it that way and the referees on the ice at that time didn’t see it that way, so we just have to deal with it and focus on the next game.”

With a gaggle of reporters waiting for him after practice at Madison Square Garden Wednesday afternoon, Letang claimed his actions were accidental. In fact, he admitted spending time scouring video of the play just to verify what had happened.

“Yeah, I had a chance to look at it,” Letang admitted.

“It’s a fast play. I went into the corner to clear the puck, my stick was up, and I got hit at the same time. I got pushed forward with my stick.

“I didn’t even know on the play if I hit (Dominic) Moore or Stalberg. I was pushed off-balance on the play and my body turned. There was nothing intentional. Never would I try to strike someone intentionally like that.

“On the ice, when he skated by, I apologized. I didn’t even know who I hit. When I saw him leaning forward, I had an idea.”

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said he was never concerned that his star blueliner might face a suspension “because I don’t think there was intent.

“The way we saw it, it was a hockey play,” Sullivan said. “He got hit from behind, he was trying to grab a hold of his balance. It’s unfortunate that he got his stick up.”