Penguins’ Hornqvist to play Game 1; Hagelin scratched

Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan says he can't divulge who's coming out of the lineup, but confirms that Patric Hornqvist is good to go for Stanley Cup Final Game 1.

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators both appear to getting healthier for the Stanley Cup final.

Pittsburgh head coach Mike Sullivan announced before Monday’s Game 1 that Patric Hornqvist would return from injury and Nashville head coach Peter Laviolette implied that both Mike Fisher and Craig Smith would be available as well.

Hornqvist hasn’t played since Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final because of an upper body injury. The 30-year-old has four goals and seven points in 13 games this spring and scored twice in last year’s Cup final against San Jose.

Carl Hagelin has been scratched from the lineup to make room for Hornqvist.

Fisher’s potential addition to the lineup gives a boost down the middle to the Predators, who are without Ryan Johansen for the remainder of the playoffs.

The 36-year-old, who went to the Cup final with Ottawa in 2007, missed the last two games of the Western Conference final with an undisclosed injury.

Smith hasn’t played since the second round against St. Louis.

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