What happened to Blake Lizotte? Pens forward exits game after injury caused by rink's bench layout

Pittsburgh Penguins center Blake Lizotte exited Sunday's game against the Ottawa Senators due to an upper body injury sustained early in the first period.

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan provided further details, explaining that Lizotte was hit in the face with the puck, describing the unexpected incident as "scary" and noting that it was a tough situation for the player.

Sullivan also mentioned that players were not accustomed to the bench being positioned so far down into the zone, which he criticized as a unique aspect of the arena's layout. He said:

“He got hit in the face with the puck. Scary thing. He never saw it coming. That was a tough one. I don’t think the guys were used to the bench being that far down into the zone. That’s a little bit different in this rink."

Notably, Elliot Lake was awarded the opportunity to host Hockeyville, but due to ongoing repairs at their Centennial Arena, the game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators took place in Sudbury on Sunday.

The matchup was held at the Sudbury Community Arena, home of the Sudbury Wolves of the CHL. The arrangement allowed the game to proceed despite challenges faced by Elliot Lake's Arena.

The severity of Blake Lizotte's injury remains uncertain at this time. Fans can expect to have more details in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Senators 5-2 to clinch their first preseason victory. They travel to Little Caesars Arena on Monday to face the Detroit Red Wings.

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Blake Lizotte joined the Penguins

Lizotte joined the Pittsburgh Penguins after inking a two-year, $3.7 million contract on July 1. Before that, he had signed for the LA Kings as a college free agent in 2019.

Lizotte spent six seasons with the Kings, recording 106 points through 37 goals and 69 assists in 320 games. Last term, the 26-year-old notched up 15 points through seven goals and eight assists in 62 regular-season games.

He also contributed a goal in five playoff games with the Kings. Before starting his professional career, Blake Lizotte played two seasons of college hockey at St. Cloud State University from 2017-19. During his stint in the NCAA, he accumulated 69 points through 22 goals and 47 assists in 76 games.