The season hasn’t started yet and already the Penguins are dealing with injuries. Forwards Blake Lizotte (upper-body) and Oliver Okuliar (lower-body) are out week-to-week.
While the feisty Okukliar figured to get squeezed out in the numbers game due to the Pens’ plethora of forwards, Lizotte was a lock to open the campaign as our fourth-line center. A role he’s pretty much filled to perfection the past couple of seasons when healthy.
Lizzo’s absence opens the door for Filip Hållander, who’s had a strong camp, as well as Tristan Broz and newcomer Hendrix Lapierre. Maybe Justin Brazeau as well if Connor Dewar slides to center.
Perhaps not by coincidence, all of the afforementioned players are slated to play tonight when the Pens kick off their preseason at PPG Paints Arena against the Sabres. Game time is 7 pm. The contest will be televised on SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Here’s our roster:
FORWARDS
Brazeau, Broz, Dewar, Gustafsson, Hållander, A. Hayes, Howe, Kindel, Kuzmenko, Lapierre, Rust, Sanderson, Söderblom
DEFENSE
Brunicke, Galvas, Graves, Letang, Pickering, Pietila, van Riemsdyk
GOALIES
Blomqvist, Murashov
