Evgeni Malkin and Patric Hornqvist played nearly 20 games on the same line in 2014-15, so building chemistry this preseason hasn’t been a Herculean task.
Sergei Plotnikov, however, was busy skating his way around Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League last season, long before a spot next to his famed countryman on an NHL line was a glimmer in his eye.
Somehow, a natural trio already is emerging from what was expected to simply be a talented duo.
The line combined for two goals on the way to a 4-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday night in Johnstown, Pa.