In order for you to continue reading this column, you are going to have to do what I did in order to finish writing it.
We are going to have to suspend our disbelief of the inference that Patric Hornqvist is really healthy.
He says he is. Mike Sullivan says he is. But this is hockey. And it’s deep into the playoffs. So when it comes to matters of health, players and coaches often…how can I put this delicately…turn into filthy liars.
That seems delicate.
But both player and coach are selling this one pretty hard. Hornqvist laughed at a suggestion he was hurt when one was advanced by a reporter Monday. And Sullivan dismissed that idea too after he limited Hornqvist to just two shifts in the third period in Saturday’s 3-1 Game 5 loss in Washington.
“We just shortened our bench,” the head coach stated. “We were trying to climb back in it. So we went with the guys we thought were going and had some energy. So we tweaked the lines a little bit”
How’s that suspension of disbelief coming?
Yeah, me either.
The only reason I’m partially willing to believe that Sullivan did bench the Game Four hero and team goal scoring leader in the playoffs is how the two discussed the matter Monday.
“No (health issues). Not at all,” scoffed Hornqvist. “I didn’t have my best game and that’s what happens. I didn’t win enough pucks along the walls and I didn’t take it to the net like I can. Some nights you don’t have it. And that happened. And I have to be better tomorrow (in game 6). And I will.”
Granted, Hornqvist wasn’t great Saturday. He was pointless. And his CF was a subpar 46%. But that hardly seemed “bench worthy” for a guy that was spoken about as if he was a folk hero by Sullivan Thursday night after his OT game winner.
“Love him,” beamed Sullivan on Thursday. “We love what he brings. He makes everyone on every line better. To see him get rewarded like that in OT…it’s a thrill.”
But those verbal bouquets continued to be hurled by Sullivan towards “Horny” Monday. And he did it in a love-tap-on-the-head-way that seemed remarkably reminiscent of platitudes he tossed at Marc Andre Fleury and Olli Maatta as those two have had to deal with “bench or play” situations this postseason.
“Horny is a great pro. And he is harder on himself than anyone is on him. He is a warrior of a player. And he has done so much for this team,” gushed Sullivan after practice. “Because he is a great pro, he’s one guy who really takes ownership of his game. And we love that about him. And he’s going to be a big part of this thing moving forward.”
That’s a long way to go for something that could’ve been simply dismissed as saying: “He had a minor upper/lower body injury. He’ll be fine to play Tuesday.”
Hornqvist’s practice participation Monday certainly suggests that’ll be the case.
So then why do it? Why bench a guy who has been a blood and guts player since he got to Pittsburgh last year. While Hornqvist’s production may come and go like many players, his effort is never in question. And when you are desperate to catch up in the third period, why not keep the guy on the ice who is the most likely to bang in a loose rebound near the cage?
“We were down a couple of goals. We were looking at players who had the most energy. That had juice. That we thought were going. That gave us a opportunity to have a spark,” claimed Sullivan Monday
That’s the first time I’ve heard “Horny” and not “having a spark” suggested together since he arrived in Pittsburgh. That’s not exactly the reputation he’s built up around these parts. And maybe too much is being made about Hornqvist “not having it” on the same night where Chris Kunitz clearly did. Those are two guys who provide a lot of similar qualities. But Hornqvist has been doing it better this year.
Saturday though, Kunitz was having his best game of the post season. He scored his first goal. Had his highest SOG total (4). His CF% was a team best 81%. And by extension, the Honey Badger received his most ice time.
Hence, Hornqvist sacrificing a little ice to Kunitz could be understood, especially on the power play. But his even ice total (9:14) was rivaling that of Tom Kuhnackl’s (7:33). Something is wrong there.
The narrative these days in Pittsburgh is “In Sully We Trust.” Ok. So I guess we will on this matter too. But the method to his madness on benching Hornqvist is very much in question.
He’s either gone mad for benching him. Or he’s taking the hiding of injuries to a maddening level.
Suspend whichever belief or disbelief you like.
