IRVINE, Calif. — Short-term injuries and backtracking workouts.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang returned to practice on Monday after leaving the Penguins’ 6-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday early in the third period with a lower-body injury.

Sunday, coach Dan Muse termed Letang, 38, out day-to-day after the defenseman missed practice, though it appears it was a short-term injury.

However, Letang was uncharacteristically in a yellow sweater, which is usually worn by the bottom-six forwards and bottom-pair defensemen.

Read into it what you will (or won’t), Matt Dumba was in black and on a pairing with Ryan Shea on the 4v2 drills. Caleb Jones skated with healthy scratch Connor Clifton, while Letang skated with rookie Harrison Brunicke.

Letang was on the left, as he was a few times last season when he skated with Erik Karlsson. In fact, the only pairing that was untouched was Parker Wotherspoon and Karlsson.

For power play drills, Letang switched to black as he ran PP2.

(UPDATED) Muse said Letang’s status for the game Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks is up in the air, and there would be conversations with the player and doctors following practice.

Muse also downplayed the new pairings, indicating that if Letang is able to play, the changes would not stick, and Letang is not under consideration for left-side duty.

“That was just for practice today. That wasn’t something we’re looking at,” said Muse. “That was just–you know (Letang) is day to day–to get some other guys going.

Penguins Lines

Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Anthony Mantha-Evgen Malkin-Justin Brazeau

Tommy Novak-Ben Kindel-Philip Tomasino

Filip Hallander-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari

Defense

Parker Wotherspoon-Erik Karlsson

Ryan Shea-Matt Dumba

Kris Letang-Harrison Brunicke

Goalies

Arturs Silovs-Tristan Jarry

Power Play 1

Erik Karlsson-Evgeni Malkin-Sidney Crosby-Rickard Rakell-Bryan Rust

Power Play 2

Kris Letang-Anthony Mantha-Ben Kindel-Tommy Novak-Justin Brazeau

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