Penguins forward Blake Lizotte is producing more offense after leaving the Kings

   

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Nieto doesn’t have any specific memories of playing against linemate Blake Lizotte when they were foes in the Western Conference with the rival San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings, respectively.

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Just one overlying sensation.

“It’s never fun playing against him,” Nieto said. “I’m happy we’re on the same team now.

“Not an easy guy to play against.”

The Kings will get to experience that notion Tuesday when they face the rambunctious Lizotte and his current employer at PPG Paints Arena.

It will be Lizotte’s first game against the Kings since they jettisoned him as a free agent this past offseason.

“Anytime you spent five years with a team then all of a sudden elsewhere, that first game, you always kind of circle,” Lizotte said after practice Monday in Cranberry. “Yeah, looking forward to it.”

Lizotte spent parts of six seasons with the Kings after joining them as an undrafted free agent out of St. Cloud State in 2019. And he appeared set to remain with them this past summer as a pending restricted free agent. But Kings management opted to not extend a qualifying offer, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent.

“It’s a mixed bag of emotions,” Lizotte said of the Kings cutting him loose. “Obviously, spending that much time there, I loved it. It’s a great organization. It was a mixed bag. Sad leaving some good people, good friends in the organization. On the other hand, it was an opportunity to come to a place like Pittsburgh and maybe get some more opportunity and have a different scene. That can do a lot for players sometimes.

“It was definitely a mixed bag. … But also exciting, opening a new chapter.”

The Penguins penned that chapter by signing him to a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $1.85 million.

That blend of feelings Lizotte has over the Kings includes gratitude.

“It was a growing time for sure,” Lizotte said. “Lots of ups and downs in the first couple of years. In pretty much anyone’s career, there’s a lot of growing up to do, maturing. They kind of saw me, helped me grow into the player that I am. Made me more complete and mature for sure. I’ll always cherish my time for sure.”

The Penguins seem to cherish what Lizotte has provided for them so far this season in his role as a bottom-six center. Sidelined for much of October and November due to a pair of concussions, Lizotte has been in the lineup every game since Nov. 27. Over the nine contests during that span, he has scored nine points (five goals, four assists) while the Penguins have gone 6-2-1 and maneuvered within the gravitational pull of a postseason-worthy position in the standings.

“A couple of unfortunate injuries, but every time he’s in the lineup, he’s a difference-maker for us,” Nieto said. “Just a tenacious guy, and he’s finding ways to put the puck in the net, too. He’s been lights out for us this year.”

Lizotte has illuminated the scoreboard a fair bit this season. Overall, he has 11 points (seven goals, four assists) in 16 games while averaging 11 minutes, 22 seconds of ice time per contest (down slightly from the 11:49 he clocked last season).

His career high for goals of 11 came in 2022-23 with the Kings over 81 games.

Has his offensive production with the Penguins surprised him?

“Yeah, to a certain point,” Lizotte said. “I’ve always known I’ve had a little more on the offensive side of the puck. For most of my career, I felt I was reserved a little more in my role in (Los Angeles), so I always felt I had a little bit more upside than I’ve shown in the past. It’s definitely a hot start. I don’t think anybody foresaw — including myself — having seven goals, (11) points through my first 16 games.

“It’s been a great start. Hopefully, I‘ll keep it going.”

Beyond the alternate schemes deployed by the Penguins and Kings, Lizotte suggests a change in conferences has invigorated his production.

“The style of play (in the) Western Conference versus the Eastern Conference is different,” Lizotte said. “It think the Eastern Conference is maybe a little bit more up-and-down, race-horse offensive base. Where it seems like a majority of the west teams are a little heavier, more defensive. Maybe it’s just a combination of coach (Mike) Sullivan’s system, which I think is more offensive as it is than in (Los Angeles). But it also is a combination, I think, of the style of play in the conference.”

Regardless of the factors, Lizotte would like to maintain his pace against his former team Tuesday.

“Going up against them will be fun,” Lizotte said. “It will be kind of weird, for sure, playing against some old roommates. I’ve kind of had it circled for a while. Should be fun.”