When Patric Hornqvist missed three games at the beginning of the season due to offseason hand surgery, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan knew something was different.
The bench was much more quiet than usual.
“Sometimes you don’t realize it until you don’t have him for a game,” Sullivan said, “then you realize, ‘Where’s the noise? Where’s the noise on the bench?’ ”
The noise has been turned up full volume of late, as the Penguins have steadied themselves and rattled off four wins in a row, the most recent a 5-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday at PPG Paints Arena.