The Penguins didn't ask defenseman Kris Letang whether he was healthy enough to return to the lineup for a matinee Sunday against the Philadelphia Flyers. They didn't have to.

"That's kind of me," Letang said after a 6-4 loss to the Flyers. "I told them I was ready to go."

Letang had missed three games in six days because of an undisclosed injury that apparently happened when he was sent feet-first into the boards March 25 in a game against the New Jersey Devils.