LOS ANGELES -- Patric Hornqvist's back on the ice.
And with all the unknowns that can accompany a concussion, that's possibly the most upbeat news the Penguins could have hoped to hear from back home.
Hornqvist resumed skating on his own Friday in Cranberry, Mike Sullivan confirmed before the game against the Kings here at Staples Center. He didn't elaborate at all, much less offer a timetable. But the way the process generally works, a concussed player resumes skating, then tries to practice with the team, then goes through at least one full-contact practice before returning. And the most common setbacks, if any, occur before they're permitted back on the ice.
The Penguins are off Sunday. Their next practice is Monday in San Jose, the next game the following night there against the Sharks. But the schedule also affords a chance at a better break for Hornqvist, who's had five confirmed concussions in the past three seasons: Once this road trip is completed through Phoenix and Las Vegas next weekend, the NHL's All-Star break spans a full week. The Penguins' first game out of the break is Jan. 28 against the Devils at PPG Paints Arena.
ALL THESE D-MEN
One night, it's Jamie Oleksiak. Another night, it's Juuso Riikola. Pretty much every night, it's Chad Ruhwedel. Real, live NHL defensemen perched up in the press box with us writer wags, rather than plying their chosen craft. And with Justin Schultz now back to skating on his own, his return is imminent as well, which would put the depth chart at nine.
Jim Rutherford told me this weekend, "Obviously, we’re not going to keep all nine defensemen, so something has to happen there," and that means a trade before the NHL's Feb. 25 trade deadline.
Until then, though, it's Sullivan dealing with the day-to-day challenges of managing a blue line that's too deep:
THE ESSENTIALS
• Media notes
• Team statistics
• NHL scoreboard
• NHL standings
THE COMBINATIONS
• The Penguins' expected lines/pairings tonight:
Guentzel-Crosby-Rust
Pearson-Malkin-Simon
Sheahan-Brassard-Kessel
Grant-Cullen-Wilson
Dumoulin-Letang
Maatta-Oleksiak
Pettersson-Johnson
• And for the Kings:
Kovalchuk-Kopitar-Brown
Iafallo-Carter-Leipsic
Hagelin-Kempe-Toffoli
Clifford-Thompson-Luff
Forbort-Doughty
Muzzin-Martinez
Phaneuf-Fantenberg
THE INJURIES
• Justin Schultz, defenseman, is out until February with a fractured leg. He took to the ice in full gear for the first time after the skate yesterday in Anaheim.
• Patric Hornqvist, right winger, is out indefinitely with a concussion. He didn't accompany the team on the trip.
• Zach Aston-Reese, right winger, is out indefinitely with a broken left hand. He's on the trip.
THE SESSION
• Casey DeSmith will start in goal tonight.
• Jonathan Quick will start for the Kings.
• The Penguins didn't skate today because of the game in Anaheim last night. The Kings held an optional in the morning.
• Tanner Pearson, a Stanley Cup champion with the Kings, will be recognized with a tribute video during the first period.
THE OTHER SIDE
The Kings are old, slow and done. Even after winning five of six to close December, they've reverted immediately to last-place form with a 1-4 start to January, scoring only eight goals in the process. They did take the Penguins to overtime Dec. 15 at PPG Paints Arena, but that, too, ended up in a loss, 4-3.
One guy who isn't old, slow or done on that side, obviously, is Carl Hagelin. But he played only five games for Los Angeles before spraining a knee ligament, and he's been back for three games since. His season totals are a goal and four assists in 24 games, and for the Kings they're no goals and two assists in eight games.
Before facing his former team for the first time since the trade, he expressed admiration for how well they're playing of late.
“You can see that they’re confident guys, they know what it takes to win," Hagelin said. "I think both teams are like that. Obviously there’s a lot of history within the walls. You see a lot of pictures of guys holding the Cup or winning big trophies. I think those two things are very similar.”
THE SCHEDULE
The Penguins are off tomorrow. They practice Monday in San Jose in preparation for their game with the Sharks the next night.
THE COVERAGE
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