He intends, Patric Hornqvist vowed, to approach this game the same as every other he has played in the National Hockey League.
Which is to say, with the ferocity of a wolverine who has a toothache and a grudge.
But Hornqvist realizes this will be unlike any of the 827 games for which he has dressed during the regular season, or the 96 in which he has competed during the Stanley Cup playoffs.
For when Hornqvist and his Florida teammates face the Penguins tonight at 7:08 at PPG Paints Arena, it will be his first game in the building since the Penguins traded him to the Panthers in 2020.
There will be lots of cheers, and perhaps even a few tears, although Hornqvist is adamant that it won't distract him from his work.
"The challenge will not be hard," he said. "I'm going to play the same way every single night."
That doesn't mean this game night will be entirely like all those that came before it. The Penguins haven't announced their plans to acknowledge Hornqvist's return, but if precedent holds, those plans will include a well-produced tribute video.
And the public's affection for him figures to generate at least one long and warm ovation.
"It feels great to be back," Hornqvist said. "I had a lot of good hockey in this city, and the city really took care of me. We won two Cups. There's a lot of emotion, obviously. ... Tonight's going to be a special night for me. I'm going to enjoy it.
"It's going to be fun, obviously. It's going to be emotional. Soak it in. That's the best thing you can do. Then get back to work."
The Penguins are keenly aware of what that means.
"I've seen my fair share of him, for sure," acting head coach Todd Reirden said. "He's obviously a very strong character guy, in terms of the passion he brings to the rink."
But there's more to Hornqvist's game than good intangibles.
"On the ice, in terms of what he does, his ability to go to the difficult areas right around the front of their net on their power play ... is something we definitely have to be aware of," Reirden said. "He'll always be around the front of that net, looking to create havoc."
Still, although the Panthers are off to a strong start -- they are 10-2-1 and first in the overall standings -- Hornqvist has had a relatively lackluster first month, putting up one goal and five assists in 13 games.
"My season so far hasn't been the best," he said. "I know I can play better."
So do the guys he used to play with. And the people who watched it happen.
MORE FROM THE SKATE
• Defensemen Marcus Pettersson and Chad Ruhwedel, both of whom left the NHL's COVID-19 protocol earlier this week, participated in the Penguins' optional game-day skate and continue to be listed as "game-time decisions" by Reirden.
• Tristan Jarry will start in goal.
• Reirden said the Penguins "have received no notice from the NHL" about their game in Ottawa Saturday possibly being affected by a recent outbreak of COVID-19 cases among Senators players. Goalie Matt Murray entered the NHL protocol today.
• Other participants in the Penguins' game-day skate were Casey DeSmith, Drew O'Connor, Brian Boyle, Mike Matheson, P.O Joseph, Juuso Riikola, Mark Friedman, Sam Lafferty, Taylor Fedun, Dominik Simon and Jarry.
