Hornqvist returns to the lineup
Patric Hornqvist returned to the Penguins lineup Saturday, a day after his first full-contact practice with the Penguins since suffering his latest concussion Nov. 23.
He had missed three consecutive games before being cleared to play against the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena.
His return was good news for Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel and Kris Letang.
Those four are elite offensive skill players who make the power play so dangerous. But without Hornqvist mucking things up in front of the net and in the corners, it can be surprisingly toothless.
Hornqvist has missed 45 regular-season games in his Penguins career. In those games, their power play converted at just 16.7 percent, which would be one of the lowest averages in the league. With Hornqvist, the Penguins, entering Saturday, were at 22.3 percent.
The Penguins were 1 for 6 the three games Hornqvist was out and also coughed up a short-handed goal in Winnipeg.
“He just brings intensity and a work ethic that I think is important to any power play,” Crosby said. “Usually your power play has a lot of skill. But I think the work ethic and outworking the penalty kill that you’re playing against is always a really important thing, and he brings that.”
Hornqvist tracking down loose pucks creates more opportunities for the other four members of the top powerplay unit. And his dirty work in front distracts defenders, creating space for others.
Plus, Hornqvist chips in with “those ugly goals,” as Crosby put it, in and around the blue paint.
Crosby said the Penguins try not to change things too much when Hornqvist is not there, but …
“We all know each other’s strengths based on who’s in there and who’s not, but Horny really takes a lot of pride in playing in front of the net and getting screens and tips and stuff like that, so I think you’re aware of that,” he said. “You throw pucks at the net knowing he’s going to be there.”
Keystone rival
The Penguins Saturday battled their Keystone State rivals for the first time this season.
“I think everything’s pretty tight [in the standings],” Crosby said. “It should bring out the best in both teams. Everybody knows about the rivalry … so I’d expect a pretty intense game.”
Well, everyone knew except for Finnish rookie Juuso Riikola, who shrugged when asked if he knew much about the rivalry, explaining he didn’t watch many NHL games due to the time difference.
But while the Flyers entered Saturday with a dozen players who had already hit double digits in penalty minutes, they aren’t exactly reminiscent of the Broad Street Bullies. So, while the Penguins braced for a feisty night, they were not spotted putting on the foil before the game.
“The game’s very different today than it was in prior generations,” coach Mike Sullivan said when asked about the Flyers teams of old that tried to intimidate with, as he put it, “belligerence and fighting.”
“I think intimidation in today’s game, to me, is more about the threat to score and the threat to win and how good [an opponent’s] power play is or the speed of a team. Those things for me can be intimidating factors,” Sullivan mused, adding, “I just think the game has evolved so much.”
Lineup note
Tanner Pearson, who was given a “maintenance day” Friday, played against the Flyers. He started the night on a line with Malkin and Hornqvist.
The Penguins initially kept Derick Brassard, Phil Kessel and Zach AstonReese together on the third line. Bryan Rust skated on the fourth line.
Daniel Sprong, Garrett Wilson and Chad Ruhwedel were scratched.
Casey DeSmith, who has won his past three starts, started in goal.
All-Star voting begins
The NHL opened voting to determine the four captains for the 2019 All-Star Game at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. Fans can vote online at NHL.com/vote, via the NHL App or on Twitter with the hashtag #NHLAllStar. Voting concludes at 11:59 p.m. Dec. 23, with the top vote-getter in each division being named an All-Star and that division’s respective captain. For more information, visit NHL.com/vote.