CRANBERRY — The final 10 games before the NHL holiday freeze were not the best of the Pittsburgh Penguins. With just one win and a half dozen ignominious defeats, with some of the most shocking plot twists, they completed a free fall from the third-best winning percentage to out of the playoff seedings.
With minimal changes and one big addition, the Penguins shook off four days of holiday cheer with a two-rink practice that extended more than one hour.
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Penguins fourth line center Blake Lizotte was a full participant in the full-contact practice at the UPMC Lemieux Center Saturday. Lizotte has proven pivotal to the penalty kill, which has fallen from fourth to 18th in the last two weeks, and the late-game lead protection, which also generously donated a handful of leads through the streak.
Penguins coach Dan Muse promptly reinstalled him as the fourth-line center between linemates Noel Acciari and Connor Dewar. In 27 games this season, the 27-year-old Lizotte has five points (3-2-5), though he has started only 4% of shifts in the offensive zone.
With Lizotte’s inclusion, forwards Kevin Hayes and Danton Heinen were the extra forwards. Hayes had centered the fourth line over the last couple of games.
Lizotte’s absence beginning on Dec. 7 directly coincided with the Penguins’ slide. Of course, Evgeni Malkin was injured in the same shootout loss to Dallas.
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Muse also made a little tweak to the lines without shuffling players. After a couple of days away from game action, Muse flipped Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen to the other sides of center Ben Kindel.
Both, but especially McGroarty, are capable of playing both wings. McGroarty helmed the right side beside Evgeni Malkin for a few games near the end of last season before suffering a lower-body injury while blocking a shot.
McGroarty suffered an upper-body injury before training camp and did not make his season debut until Dec. 1. In 12 games, the rookie winger has three points (2-1-3), including a goal against Toronto on Tuesday.
PHN will update the practice story following the conclusion of practice and when coach Dan Muse speaks to the media.
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The post Penguins Return: Lizotte Update; Lines Tweak appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now.
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