Penguins
(UPDATED) Puck Hits Penguins Lizotte in Face; Didn’t Get Shift
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced during the second intermission that center Blake Lizotte suffered an upper-body injury and would not return for the third period of the preseason game against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night.
The NHL does not keep a shift chart during the preseason, so we’re unable to determine his final shift. After 40 minutes, the Penguins led 3-2, including a pair of goals by Evgeni Malkin.
UPDATE: Coach Mike Sullivan confirmed Lizotte didn’t take a shift Sunday night. He was sitting on the bench and was hit by an errant puck on the first shift of the game.
Lizotte has been largely paired with Noel Acciari through training camp and preseason. He signed a two-year, $3.7 million free agent deal after the LA Kings did not offer him a qualifying offer, thus making him an unrestricted free agent.
Last season, Lizotte had seven goals with 15 points in 62 games.
The Sunday game was the Kraft Hockeyville Celebration, in which Elliot Lake, Ont. won $250,000 to fix their community rink. However, the game was played at the Sudbury Community Rink in Sudbury, Ont.
I didn’t see him at all. Tanger sent a puck into the bench on the very first shift of the game and I’m wondering if it hit him? Couldn’t see the Pens bench with the TV camera set up.
I couldn’t pinpoint when he left, and I can’t recall seeing him either!