Sharks' Marleau won't face more discipline for hit

PITTSBURGH -- San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau will not face supplemental discipline for his hit on Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final at Consol Energy Center on Monday.
On Tuesday, the NHL Department of Player Safety said that no additional discipline was merited for the hit, which occurred at 4:47 of the third period.

Marleau hit Rust at Pittsburgh's attacking blue line and received a two-minute minor for an illegal check to the head. Rust, who scored the opening goal in the first period, missed several shifts after the hit before returning to the bench later in the third and took one shift before being removed from the game again.
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said Tuesday that Rust is day-to-day and could miss Game 2 here on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports). Rust did not skate during an optional practice Tuesday.
The Department of Player Safety said the main points of contact by Marleau on the hit were the shoulders and chest of Rust, who was reaching and was off-balance, and also said Marleau did not "pick" the head, elevate himself or extend, and that the contact with Rust's head was made with Marleau's back.

Rust, who plays right wing on Evgeni Malkin's line that includes left wing Chris Kunitz, has four goals in his past three games, including each of the Penguins' goals in their 2-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final on Thursday. He has six goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the most ever by a Penguins rookie.