Rust a Game-Time Decision for Saturday

Bryan Rust was a full participant in Penguins practice on Friday at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, and will be a game-time decision for Saturday vs. Minnesota.

"Today was a big day for him, to be able to go through a full-contact practice," said assistant coach Todd Reirden, who is handling injury updates with head coach Mike Sullivan in the COVID protocol. "We'll have him talk over his availability tomorrow with our trainers and make the decision that puts him in the best position to have success. We liked a lot of what we saw today."
During today's session, where he sported a full-contact jersey, Rust skated on his usual line with Jake Guentzel and Jeff Carter. He also practiced on the top power-play unit. Overall, this was his third time joining the team, after skating with them on Wednesday in a no-contact jersey and taking part in the team's morning skate in the same no-contact fashion last Saturday.
Rust, who sustained a lower-body injury in the team's second game of the season, is looking to return to the team after missing the last seven games. Although it was frustrating to be out for so long, the winger feels good about his status.
"(It's) extremely frustrating. Obviously you don't like getting hurt ever, but that quickly into the season, it stings maybe a little bit more," Rust said. "But feeling good now, felt good on the ice. So we'll see how things go here in the next little while and just kind of go from there."
Rust sustained the injury against the Florida Panthers on Oct. 14, when he collided with defenseman MacKenzie Weeger at the blue line at the start of the third period.
"Tried to make a move to the inside," Rust said of the play. "He read me really well. He caught me with real nice hit. Just kind of had an awkward collision and ended up getting hurt. Just unfortunate."

If Rust does return tomorrow, he said the biggest challenge will be just trying to keep it simple early on.
"Obviously, the game happens fast out there, and it's only getting faster as the year goes on," he said. "So I think for me, only having played one-and two-thirds games of the season, just kind of getting out there, working hard. Got to keep things simple early and just go from there."
Rust scored 22 goals last season after leading the team with 27 tallies in 2019-20, and could provide a spark to a Penguins offense that is still without Sidney Crosby (COVID-19 protocol) and Evgeni Malkin (knee surgery).
"I think he's a really important player that, until you realize you don't have him, you don't realize how good he really is," Reirden said of Rust. "But just so you know that in our room, we weren't forgetting about having him. He certainly brings a ton of different attributes to our team that allows us to play Penguins hockey.
"The way he pursues pucks, the speed he plays with, his ability to make plays in tight areas…we use him on the power play, 4-on-4…obviously he's been a guy that's killed penalties in the past when we get a little short-handed in terms of personnel. He's able to do that. He's a guy that is extremely valuable to us, and certainly looking forward to having him back in the lineup as soon as he's able."
Rust sustained the injury against the Florida Panthers on Oct. 14, when he collided with defenseman MacKenzie Weeger at the blue line at the start of the third period.
"Tried to make a move to the inside," Rust said of the play. "He read me really well. He caught me with real nice hit. Just kind of had an awkward collision and ended up getting hurt. Just unfortunate."