37 Sam Lafferty RW

Lafferty produced a secondary assist Friday in a 2-1 loss to the Devils.

A relative unknown heading into the season, Lafferty is up to three goals and four assists through 12 games. Expect the rookie to keep rolling at the top level as long as Patric Hornqvist (lower body) is out of commission.

The Penguins recalled Lafferty from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Tuesday.

Patric Hornqvist (lower body) is dealing with a long-term injury, so Lafferty could be in for an extended stay with the big club. The 24-year-old winger has notched three goals and six points in 10 appearances with Pittsburgh this season.

Lafferty was reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Thursday.

The move to send Lafferty back to the Baby Pens creates room under the 23-man roster limit for Evgeni Malkin (lower body) to be activated off injured reserve. The 24-year-old Lafferty put up three goals and three helpers in 10 games for Pittsburgh this season and will likely sit atop the list of potential call-ups throughout the 2019-20 campaign. Heading into next year, the winger figures to be a strong candidate for a roster spot in training camp.

Lafferty scored two goals on four shots and was plus-2 with a pair of blocked shots in a 7-2 victory over the Jets on Sunday.

The 24-year-old was recalled by the Penguins on Monday and went without a point in his first two NHL games. But Lafferty broke out Saturday with a goal and two assists against the Wild, then followed that up with tonight's two-goal performance. Injuries up front have opened the door for the second-year pro and he has certainly seized the opportunity so far.

Lafferty scored an empty-net goal and added a pair of assists in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Wild.

After going scoreless in his first two NHL games, Lafferty erupted for his first three points in a barn-burner of a game. He also went plus-3 and fired three shots on goal in the contest. A number of injuries to Penguins forwards have given Lafferty an earlier-than-expected chance to play at hockey's highest level, and a performance like Saturday's should give the 24-year-old a boost in confidence.

Lafferty was recalled from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Monday.

Lafferty and Andrew Agozzino were recalled in response to Evgeni Malkin and Nick Bjugstad hitting injured reserve with lower-body injuries. The 24-year-old forward notched 13 goals and 49 points with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season after a four-year career with Brown University.