Penguins' Bryan Rust: Records career-high 28 goals
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Rust managed to set a new personal best with 28 goals this season despite playing in just 62 games.
Rust almost certainly would have reached the 30-goal threshold were it not for his 20-game absence due to an injury. Looking ahead to next year, the veteran winger should be a lock for a top-six role, which will see him playing alongside either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin.
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Penguins' Bryan Rust: Lights lamp Saturday
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Rust scored a goal on seven shots in Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Bruins.
Rust has been in fine form over the last month, with 10 goals and nine assists over his past 16 contests. His tally got the Penguins on the board in the second period, but they weren't able to keep up with the Bruins' scoring frenzy in the middle frame. Rust has 28 goals, 55 points, 187 shots and a plus-12 rating through 60 contests this season. Despite another year marred by significant injury absences, he's just three points shy of matching his career high of 58 from the 2021-22 campaign with two contests remaining.
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Penguins' Bryan Rust: Three points against Wings
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Rust scored a goal and added two assists in Thursday's 6-5 overtime win over the Red Wings.
The 31-year-old winger delivered his first three-point performance since Feb. 25, and Thursday's tally was the 27th of the season for Rust, tying the career high he set in 2019-20. Over the last 15 games, he's collected nine goals and 18 points as the Penguins try to lock up a playoff spot.
Rust scored twice on four shots in Monday's 5-2 win over the Rangers.
Rust opened the scoring just 18 seconds into the game and then added an empty-netter in the third frame for his 25th and 26th goals of the season. He also added two hits, four blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in 19:46 of ice time. The 31-year-old winger is now on a five-game point streak, producing five markers and two assists over that span. The two-way winger is still a consistent goal scorer who also contributes in hits and shots on goal.
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Penguins' Bryan Rust: Bags apple Thursday
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Rust registered an assist in a 3-2 victory over Columbus on Thursday.
Since returning from an upper-body injury, Rust's offensive game has been on full display, racking up five goals and three assists, including two with the man advantage, in 10 outings. The 31-year-old winger is thriving while playing up on the top line with Sidney Crosby and may be benefitting from the departure of Jake Guentzel in terms of added scoring opportunities.
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Penguins' Bryan Rust: Two-point effort in loss
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Rust scored an even-strength goal and added a power-play assist in Saturday's 7-4 loss to the Rangers.
Rust beat Jonathan Quick midway through the first period before helping to set up a Lars Eller tally in the second stanza. The 31-year-old Rust has two goals and three points in four games since coming off IR, and Saturday's goal was his 20th of the season -- the fifth straight campaign in which he has reached that mark.
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Penguins' Bryan Rust: Removed from IR
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The Penguins activated Rust (upper body) from injured reserve Sunday.
Even though he was considered a game-time decision, Rust appears ready to return from a seven-game absence Sunday against Edmonton. He has accounted for 18 goals, 36 points, 128 shots on net, 30 blocked shots and 40 hits in 42 appearances this season. Assuming he's good to go Sunday, Rust should occupy a top-six spot in the lineup and get power-play time.
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Penguins' Bryan Rust: Joins teammates on the ice
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Rust joined his teammates for practice Friday, marking the first time he's practiced since sustaining an upper-body injury Feb. 25 against Philadelphia, Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' official site reports.
Rust has missed the past six games. In his last game played before getting injured, he recorded two goals and one assist in a 7-6 win over the Flyers. The 31-year-old has recorded 18 goals and 18 assists through 42 contests on the year. He will be slotted into the first or second line when he returns.
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Penguins' Bryan Rust: Skates on his own
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Rust (upper body) skated before practice Thursday, marking the first time he's been on the ice since he was injured Feb. 25, Penguins play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports.
Rust didn't stick around for the main practice, so don't expect him to play versus Washington on Thursday. Rust was red hot before he got hurt, scoring six times and adding two assists in his last seven games. Overall, he has 18 goals and 36 points in 42 games this season.
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Penguins' Bryan Rust: Designated for IR
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Rust (upper body) was placed on injured reserve Thursday.
Rust was previously deemed week-to-week, so his placement on IR shouldn't come as a surprise. The 31-year-old winger was rolling offensively when hurt, having racked up seven goals and two assists, including four power-play points, in his last nine outings. Without Rust in the lineup, Reilly Smith has been elevated to play on the first line with Sidney Crosby.
Rust (upper body) is considered week-to-week according to coach Mike Sullivan on Tuesday, Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Rust was already expected to miss the Penguins' four-game road trip after not traveling with the team, so this latest update doesn't impact his short-term availability. Still, with Jake Guentzel (upper body) already out until mid-February, the loss of the 31-year-old Rust will only serve to further stretch the team's slim chances of making the postseason. In their stead, both Reilly Smith and Rickard Rakell have been elevated to first-line roles.
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Penguins' Bryan Rust: Missing from road trip
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Rust (upper body) won't join the Penguins for the start of their four-game road trip, which begins Tuesday in Vancouver.
Rust was injured in Sunday's wild 7-6 victory over the Flyers in which he racked up two goals (one on the power play) on six shots and an assist. Unless he links up with the team later in the trip, the 31-year-old winger should be expected to miss at least the next four games. Reilly Smith has moved into Rust's first-line spot while Valtteri Puustinen was elevated to the No. 1 power-play unit.
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Penguins' Bryan Rust: Injured Sunday
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Rust (upper body) is being evaluated after Sunday's win over the Flyers, Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' official site reports.
Rust tallied two goals -- including one on the man advantage -- and an assist with six shots on goal before exiting Sunday's contest. He has 16 points in 20 appearances since returning from a 10-game absence that held him out for most of December. The 31-year-old winger has 18 goals and 36 points in 42 games this season. An update on Rust's status should be available before the Penguins begin their upcoming four-game road trip.
Rust notched a power-play assist and two shots on goal in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Kings.
Rust helped out on Sidney Crosby's goal in the first period. The helper extended Rust's point streak to four games after he scored in each of the last three. The 31-year-old winger is up to 32 points (three on the power play), 118 shots on net and a plus-16 rating over 39 appearances. He should continue to see steady time on the top power-play unit while Jake Guentzel (upper body) is out.
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Penguins' Bryan Rust: Deposits empty-netter
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Rust scored an empty-net goal on three shots and went plus-3 in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Blackhawks.
Rust's tally came as the Penguins were killing a penalty late in the third period, giving him his first shorthanded point of the campaign. The winger has scored in three straight games and is up to 15 tallies and 31 points through 38 outings overall. The 31-year-old has added 116 shots on net, 36 hits, 30 blocked shots and a plus-17 rating. He'll likely be looked to for more offense while Jake Guentzel (upper body) is out for four weeks.
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Penguins' Bryan Rust: Lights lamp in loss
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Rust found the back of the net in a 2-1 loss to Winnipeg on Saturday.
With Connor Hellebuyck producing another stellar game between the pipes, the Penguins kept coming at the tender, but Rust was the only one who solved him. He skated across the vision of Hellebuyck and tipped an Erik Karlsson shot from the point that ended up top shelf. Rust didn't stop there, blasting seven shots on net to lead all skaters while adding a hit in 18:30 TOI. The 31-year old winger now has three goals and six assists with 40 shots on goal since the start of January. The Penguins will be home against the Panthers on Wednesday.
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Penguins' Bryan Rust: Two helpers in Friday's loss
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Rust picked up two assists, including one on the power play, in Friday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Panthers.
The veteran winger helped set up a Jake Guentzel tally early in the first period and Evgeni Malkin's tying goal inside the last minute of the third to at least earn the Penguins a point. Rust has been productive since returning from an upper-body injury at the beginning of January, delivering one goal and seven points in his past 10 outings. Friday's power-play point was his first of the season.
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Penguins' Bryan Rust: First goal since return from injury
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Rust scored a goal and added an assist in a 3-2 overtime loss to Carolina on Saturday.
Rust tied the game 2-2 from a sharp angle off the rebound of Erik Karlsson's shot while playing 6-on-5 in the last minute of the third period. It was Rust's first goal in six games (one goal, three assists) since his return from injury. He had been a strong complementary fantasy play prior to his absence, and he now has 11 goals and 13 assists across 28 appearances. Rust is on pace for his fifth consecutive 20-plus goal season, and he could challenge his previous personal best of 27 markers.
