BOSTON — Ben Kindel will take a turn as the Pittsburgh Penguins top line center. In the wake of Sidney Crosby’s injury suffered during the Winter Olympics, the Penguins’ top line was updated to include Avery Hayes, but now three lines are getting shuffled before the team’s game against the Boston Bruins Tuesday at TD Garden.
Tuesday, coach Dan Muse said center Blake Lizotte is out day-to-day with a lower-body injury, likely following a hit in the second period Sunday against the Vegas Golden Knights. He will not play Tuesday.
In his place, Muse moved Connor Dewar to the middle of the line, with Avery Hayes dropping from the top line to the left wing of the fourth line with Dewar and Noel Acciari.
The Penguins fourth-line has been one of the best in hockey. No forward line (min. 250 minutes played together) has allowed fewer goals against at 5-on-5 than the Penguins’ trio (7).
Dewar played center for the Minnesota Wild for most of two seasons before he played wing in Toronto and then with the Penguins. Dewar will have some help if he, too, struggles on faceoffs with Noel Acciari, who also doubles as a center still on the line.
The other immediate fallout from Lizotte’s absence is Muse inserting Kevin Hayes back into the lineup. Hayes has primarily served as the extra forward and has played in just three games since the holiday break. His last game was the Feb. 5 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
Hayes will center the Penguins’ third line with Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau.
And, the notable change that will have the biggest impact on the Penguins’ fortunes Tuesday, is moving the rookie Kindel to the top line.
This season, Kindel, 18, has 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games, spending time primarily as one of the Penguins’ middle-six centers.
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