Hunwick’s return gets put on hold
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Penguins are pumping the brakes on Matt Hunwick’s return from a concussion.
Hunwick did not skate Saturday, coach Mike Sullivan said before the Penguins took on the Predators at Bridgestone Arena, and won’t again for a few days, thus representing a different plan of attack by team doctors.
“[The medical staff] wants to take a little bit of a different approach to see if they can get him over the hump,” Sullivan said. “We’re going to keep him off the ice here for a few days, then we’ll reevaluate daily on when we put him back on the ice.”
The previous game Hunwick played was Oct. 14, meaning Saturday was the 12th consecutive he has missed. He practiced Oct. 16 and flew with the team to Manhattan but showed up for work the next day experiencing concussion-like symptoms.
Making this unique was the fact that Hunwick was a full participant Monday in practice — and the general expectation was for him to return Tuesday along with Justin Schultz.
That didn’t happen, in part, because concussions are funky and all different. Sullivan said that Hunwick has “plateaued here for a number of days,” meaning he was never able to progress enough to get in a game.
Speaking after another practice, this one Thursday, Hunwick said he was cleared for contact in practice but not in games … and that there’s a difference.
“There are certain times where I’m able to take contact, other times I’m not,” Hunwick said. “A game has a lot more risk in terms of contact. Practice is a little bit more controlled.”
So, for now, Hunwick won’t skate. And after a few days, the Penguins’ hope is that they can resume the recovery process with a little more success.
“He hasn’t been medically cleared yet to participate in games,” Sullivan said. “Until he overcomes that last hurdle, that’s where he’s at in the process.He’s been kind of plateaued here for a number of days. Quite honestly, I think that’s why the decision was made to take a little bit of a different approach here to see if we can’t help him get over that last hurdle.”
Mutual respect
Patric Hornqvist and Pekka Rinne spent six years together in Nashville, three of them as roommates on the road.
It led to a closeness that gives Rinne, the Predators No. 1goaltender, sort of an odd distinction. He’s pretty much the only one of his kind in the entire NHL who doesn’t hate Hornq vist’s guts.
“I have a ton of respect for the way he plays,” Rinne said. “He plays a super honest game.”
“Great friend. Such a great guy. A passionate guy on and off the ice. One of the hardest guys to play against, especially for a goalie.”
Hornqvist played 363 games for the Predators from 2008-14 and scored 106 goals. Nearly all of them came from in front of the opposing goaltender, on plays in tight, rebounds and redirects.
That way of playing the game is one of the things that has endeared Hornqvist to Pittsburgh. Another is his high-energy style.
Rinne said that never, ever stopped. Even in ways that defy reality.
“He would still drink coffee at 9 p.m. and then be in bed by 10:30,” Rinne said. “It’s crazy. He’s always been a mystery to me. He’s very high-strung, very high energy, but the way he’s able to wind down is unbelievable.”
Hornqvist did not play in the first meeting between these teams, a 4-0 Penguins win Oct. 7. Friday in Washington, Hornqvist tied for the team lead in shots on goal (4) and was tops in hits (3) and blocked shots (4).
This season, Hornqvist has five goals and eight points in 15games since returning from offseason hand surgery. Lately, along with Phil Kessel, he has been one of the Penguins’ best offensive players.
The biggest goal of Hornqvist’s career, of course, came in the spring when he knocked a puck past Rinne to secure a second consecutive Stanley Cup for the Penguins.
It’s the type of goal that Rinne can appreciate more than most.
“He’s been doing that all of his career,” Rinne said. “He still continues to be effective with that. It takes a lot of courage and preparation. When you play like that, you give everything you have every single night, you can’t help but admire the guy.”
Rinne said there are times when Hornqvist, who doesn’t change his style against anyone, actually will apologize to his former roommate.
“He might give you a slash and then say, ‘Sorry,’” Rinne said. “It’s just the stuff he does. I’m a competitive guy myself, too. It’s always a battle. It was a battle with him, even in practice.”