The Pittsburgh Penguins will face off against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night, and when they return to the ice, they will be looking to get back in the win column after losing their past two games. However, they will be without center Blake Lizotte, which could make things a bit more difficult for the team.
In his second season with the Pens, Lizotte has carved out an important role with the team, as he’s suited up for 46 games, scoring six goals and dishing out 11 assists. With Lizotte’s wife set to give birth on Thursday, though, Lizotte went to be by her side, which is why he won’t be playing for Pittsburgh against Buffalo.
“Forward Blake Lizotte (personal) will not be available for tonight’s game against Buffalo. He and his wife are expecting the birth of their first child,” the Penguins’ public relations account shared in a post on X.
Being without Lizotte is obviously not ideal, but some things are more important than the game of hockey, and this is certainly one of them. The team will be hoping all goes well for the Lizotte family, with the hope being that he will be back with the team sooner rather than later.
Prior to their two most recent losses, the Penguins had been rolling, as they rattled off six straight wins before their two latest contests. Pittsburgh will look to get back to its winning ways, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Thursday night at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
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