Rust scores twice, Penguins recover to defeat Kings in shootout

PITTSBURGH --Bryan Rust had two goals and an assist before scoring in the shootout of a 5-4 win for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Los Angeles Kings at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday.

That came after Rust scored 3:02 into overtime of a 1-0 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.
"The game is fun right now," Rust said. "Just trying to take it in stride. Trying to get better every day. Things are going well."
WATCH: [All Kings vs. Penguins highlights]
Tristan Jarry made 38 saves, and Kris Letang and Jake Guentzel each had three assists for the Penguins (19-10-4), who have won five of their past six games. Jarry had three shutouts in his previous four starts.
Kyle Clifford and Michael Amadio scored late in the third period, and Jonathan Quick made 23 saves for Los Angeles (13-18-3), which is 2-4-1 in the past seven games.

NHL Video - Title : Video: LAK@PIT: Rust nets Guentzel's pass from slot for PPG - Url: https://www.nhl.com/video/c-4830868

"I think everybody stuck in it. They stayed in it," Clifford said. "They knew it was going to be a grind. I thought we played well enough to win. It was just unfortunate, and we have to get ready for tomorrow night."
Rust scored in the fourth round of the shootout, and Jarry did not allow a goal against Amadio, Tyler Toffoli, Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe.
Quick made a save on Rust at the end of a breakaway 2:48 into overtime before turning away a wrist shot from Teddy Blueger seven seconds later.

Clifford and Amadio scored 1:23 apart to tie the game 4-4 after Blueger gave the Penguins a 3-2 lead at 9:26 of the third. Kopitar failed to score on a penalty shot with 8:31 remaining, and Jack Johnson made it 4-2 with 8:02 left.
Clifford cut it to 4-3 with a shot from the left face-off circle with 5:00 left, and Amadio tied it 4-4 on a wrist shot from outside the crease with 3:37 remaining.
"It had a little bit of everything," Kings coach Todd McLellan said. "Good start. We got into a bit of penalty trouble. They claw back as we expected. They're a very scrappy, competitive team. They don't go away, nor do we. We talked about that between periods. 'We got to respond here a little bit and push,' and I thought we did that late in the third. We didn't go away."

Rust scored twice in the second period after the Penguins fell behind 2-0 in the first. He cut the lead to 2-1 on a wrist shot from the slot at 3:31 before tying it 2-2 on a 5-on-3 power play at 17:36.
Austin Wagner put the Kings ahead 1-0 with his third goal of the season at 13:08 of the first period, and Toffoli made it 2-0 at 18:00.
"I'm happy with the win," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "Our guys are playing hard. They're competing. ... You have to give [the Kings] credit too. They played a hard game as well, so we're competing hard out there. We're fighting hard. I just like our effort."

They said it

"I think we played a good game. Obviously [the Penguins are] a good team. They have a lot of speed and a lot of skill. Obviously they're going to have some chances in the game. ... It was a tight game. I think we did a really good job at the end, coming back as well. We definitely deserved one more point tonight." -- Kings forward Adrian Kempe
"Just try and stop the next shot. It's not something I really worry about. It's always looking to the present and making sure I'm ready for the next shot." -- Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry on regrouping after allowing two late goals

Need to know

Penguins center Evgeni Malkin missed a second straight game with an illness. Pittsburgh also played without centers Sidney Crosby and Nick Bjugstad, who are each recovering from core muscle surgery. ... Kopitar was held without a point for a third straight game and for the eighth time in his past nine games. He needs one point to tie Wayne Gretzky (918) for fourth on Los Angeles' all-time points list. ... Kings forward Ilya Kovalchuk was scratched for a 17th straight game. ... Jarry has appeared in nine of Pittsburgh's past 11 games (eight starts). Goalie Matt Murray has started one game in December, where he made 25 saves in a 5-3 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 7. ... The Penguins recalled forward Joseph Blandisi on an emergency basis for the second time in three days Saturday. He was also recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League with Malkin ill Thursday. ... Guentzel has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in a five-game point streak. ... The Kings did not score on three power plays. They had three goals on seven chances with the man-advantage in their previous three games.

What's next

Kings:At the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, FS-D, FS-W, NHL.TV)
Penguins: At the Calgary Flames on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; ESPN+, SNW, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV)