Injury disrupts Patric Hornqvist's rebound season for the Penguins

Patric Hornqvist’s 2018-19 season ended as you would expect it to.

In the crease, vexing a goaltender.

Midway through the second period of Game 4 of their first-round series, Hornqvist ran afoul of New York Islanders goaltenders Robin Lehner and the two began to exchange cross checks, shoves, punches and probably a few cuss words in their native Swedish tongues.

Just over an hour later, Lehner and the Islanders completed a four-game sweep of the Penguins.

The only thing missing from the sequence for Hornqvist, one of the NHL’s best net-front scorers, was a goal.

Like most of his teammates, Hornqvist was blanked from the scoresheet for all four games against the Islanders. But for Hornqvist, that scoring futility was an extension of the second half of his regular season. In the 39 games after New Year’s Day, Hornqvist was limited to four goals.

After being dispatched by the Islanders, he found some goals a few weeks later. In Slovakia.

Joining Sweden’s entry into the IIHF World Championship tournament, Hornqvist led his team with seven goals in 10 games.

“I got the most goals,” Hornqvist proclaimed with minimal hubris. “There was some talented guys there. I found a way to score goals and get my confidence back.”

That confidence has carried over through the first 14 games of this season as Hornqvist is fourth on the Penguins with 10 points (five goals, five assists).

He’ll have to wait a while for his 15th game.

The Penguins placed Hornqvist on injured reserve because of an undisclosed injury he suffered during the late stages of Saturday’s 2-1 home overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers. A team spokesperson labeled the recovery time for the ailment as “longer term.” The designation is retroactive to Saturday.

Beyond Hornqvist’s tangible attributes, his absence will leave a considerable void in the dressing room, particularly when it come to his voice.

“He’s a great leader,” defenseman Marcus Pettersson said. “He’s one of the guys we always rely on to speak his mind and get the guys going when we don’t play well. He’s one of those verbal leader and gets everybody together and makes sure we strive in the right direction, makes sure we do the right things out there. He’s one of the best guys to do that.”

Said Sidney Crosby: “Just the energy, the compete level that he brings, he sets the tone that way. Home, away, rival, nonrival, he brings it every night. Just making sure that we have that element every night is something that we’ve got to make sure we focus on, and everyone’s got to to do that.”

Hornqvist’s energy has manifested itself into being a more regular contributor on offense through the early stages of this season.

“That obviously didn’t help last year when I couldn’t score the last part of the season,” Hornqvist said Friday. “That’s past me. I tried to learn from it. I feel good now. I don’t think I do that much different out there. There’s a lot going my way. And you know what? I’ve got confidence back, and it’s huge.”

As one of his closest friends on the team, fellow Swede Pettersson had a unique perspective on Hornqvist.

“One of the reasons him and I both went to play (in Slovakia) was that we thought (last) season ended so soon here It’s always tough going into a summer when you’re disappointed. We just wanted chances to do better and play better. He played very well. The same thing there. He was a leader, and he always go to the areas where he scored goals.”

Aside from actually scoring goals, Hornqvist’s teammates profess little has changed for him this season.

“I wouldn’t sense a difference, really,” Crosby said. “He plays the same way every night regardless if it’s going in or not. He brings a certain energy and physicality and grit to our team. I haven’t ever seen that waver regardless of what the scoresheets looks like.

Said Pettersson: “Sometimes you get hot and you score goals, and sometimes you don’t. I know he was probably frustrated last year. But he didn’t show it at all to the team. He was always the same way. Always high energy in the locker room, getting the guys going. It probably bothered him (not scoring), but he doesn’t show it.”

Hornqvist suggested the key to his improved production is pretty simple.

“Just stay healthy and play the right way.”

One portion of that equation already has gone by the wayside early in 2019-20.

Notes: Forward Bryan Rust replaced Hornqvist on the second line in practice. … Defenseman Brian Dumoulin did not participate in practice Sunday in order to attend to the birth of a child. His status for Monday’s road game against the Boston Bruins is uncertain. … During practice, Crosby did not wear a jaw protector he has donned for the past two games. He labeled the accessory as precautionary.

Follow the Penguins all season long.