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PITTSBURGH – If you look closely enough after the whistles, during the short breaks in the heated action, you might see an opponent give Bobby Ryan a light tap on the shin pads. If you had a microphone trained on Ryan’s helmet when the puck is not in play, you would hear the words of support and encouragement from the other side.

Ryan, who returned last week from his three-month stint in the NHL/NHLPA’s substance abuse program due to his battle with alcohol —he delivered a hat trick in Thursday’s 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks — says the response from his NHL peers on the ice has been heartwarming.

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Photo by Marc DesRosiers / USA TODAY Sports

“The guys, when you’re lining up at the (faceoff) dot, it might be real quick, but they say ‘it’s nice to see you back’ or ‘it’s nice to see you doing well’ or ‘congrats,’ whatever it might be,” Ryan told Postmedia after a brief morning skate in advance of Tuesday’s game here against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“Everyone kind of has their own form of acknowledging it. It’s one of those things where you’re actually competing (against each other), but there’s that human element where you can take a second and acknowledge it.”