Hornqvist closes in on return
Feisty F nears being Sullivan’s decision
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist took the ice Friday at Bridgestone Arena, the same venue where he played the first six seasons of his NHL career.
The sentimental value was minimal, considering it was just a morning skate and he was on a line with a former playerturned-assistant-coach (Mark Recchi) and a call-up who has yet to play an NHL game (Thomas Di Pauli). But Hornqvist’s presence alone in this empty arena was noteworthy nonetheless.
While Hornqvist did not play Friday night against the Predators, his presence was welcomed as he continues to recover from a lower-body injury. By joining the team on the ice at practice, it also signaled another critical step on his path back to full strength.
“He’s close,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s joined the team in a full capacity. He’s been skating for a while now. He’s had contact. So he’s getting closer to being a coach’s decision.”
Hornqvist has not played since Nov. 30. This is his second significant stint on injured reserve. He previously missed time from Nov. 3-21, a span of seven games, with a lower-body injury. In 20 games this season, he has recorded six goals and five assists while playing up and down the lineup and on the power play.
Bjugstad skates
While Hornqvist took a major step in his recovery in Nashville, Nick Bjugstad took a noteworthy step of his own in Pittsburgh.
For the first time since having core muscle surgery, he skated with Penguins skills coach Ty Hennes. In 10 games, Bjugstad recorded one goal while centering the third line. Time will tell if he continues to play in the middle or if Jared McCann’s strong performance in his absence will bump him to the wing when he comes back.
Additionally, Sullivan said that Sidney Crosby continues to track in the right direction. He continues to skate with Hennes and is making progress. For what it’s worth, the Penguins estimated he would miss a minimum of six weeks when he had sports hernia surgery. Dec. 26 was exactly six weeks from the surgery.
Defenseman Justin Schultz, who suffered a lower-body injury Dec. 17 in Calgary, Alberta, has not returned to skating. Fellow defenseman Brian Dumoulin, who is expected to miss at least all of January after having ankle surgery, is also not yet skating.
Three call-ups
The Penguins called up three players Friday from their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Forwards Joseph Blandisi and Thomas Di Pauli were joined by defenseman Kevin Czuczman.
Blandisi, 25, has appeared in 16 games with the Penguins this season, recording two goals and two assists. His latest goal came in the Penguins’ 5-2 win Dec. 20 in Edmonton, Alberta. He started Friday night against the Predators as the fourth-line center.
Meanwhile, Di Pauli and Czuczman were called up more as insurance in case of an unforeseen illness or injury. They both were healthy scratches Friday night.
Di Pauli, 25, has skated in 19 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, recording four goals, five assists and nine points. He has yet to make his NHL debut. Czuczman, 28, has played in 13 NHL games, all with the New York Islanders in 201314, recording two assists.