Rust Rescues Penguins Again

It’s safe to say our Penguins didn’t play their best game of the season last night. They were out shot, 42-27, by the lowly Los Angeles Kings, a resounding 27-11 over the final two periods. After rallying from an early two-goal deficit, our guys blew a seemingly insurmountable two-goal lead in the final five minutes of regulation.

Fortunately, they had a “Rusty Razor” stashed in their equipment bag for just such an emergency.

For the second straight game, it was Bryan Rust to the rescue. Rising to the occasion in Evgeni Malkin’s absence to save our collective bacon, No. 17 followed up his overtime-winner against Columbus two nights earlier with two second-period goals to knot the score at 2-2. He helped set up Teddy Blueger’s go-ahead goal with a long-range wrister. Oh, and for good measure, he potted the deciding tally in the shootout, lifting a nifty backhander over Jonathan Quick’s blocker.

All in a night’s work for the speedy winger. When the chips are down, Rust steps forward. In spades.

“The game is fun right now,” he said. “Just trying to take it in stride, trying to get better every day. Things are going well.”

An understatement if there ever was one.  Since missing the first 11 games of the season with a hand injury, Rust’s skating as if he were shot from a cannon.

Producing, too. Displaying a new-found confidence, the Notre Dame grad’s piled up a dozen goals and 22 points in only 19 games, along with a sparkling plus-12. His Corsi’s a solid 54.5, his shooting percentage a team-best 17.4. By contrast, former Pen Phil Kessel…the man he essentially replaced…is sniping at a pedestrian 8.2 percent clip.

Rust’s been wonderfully consistent. Prone to pronounced hot and cold streaks in the past…he opened last season with a single goal in his first 29 contests before finishing with 18…he hasn’t gone more than two games this season without registering a point. All the while teaming with Malkin and Jake Guentzel to form a lethal new line.

None too shabby for a player taken 80th overall in the third round of the 2010 entry draft. Projected to be a role player and fourth-line energy guy, Rust first displayed a knack for scoring key goals during the 2016 Stanley Cup run.

Serving notice that he might be a diamond in the rough, the Michigan native notched two goals and an assist against Henrik Lundqvist in the series finale against the Rangers. Channeling former black-and-gold grinder Max Talbot, he scored both goals during the Pens’ conference-clinching 2-1 triumph over Tampa Bay.

The following spring Rust scored seven postseason goals, including a two-goal performance against Columbus and two more game-winners, cementing his reputation as a player who delivers in the clutch.

You might say he’s been runnin’ and gunnin’ ever since. In particular, Rust’s ability to play on any line and in any situation is highly valued by Mike Sullivan and the coaching staff. As he demonstrated last night, “Rusty’s” equally adept at killing penalties or working the power play. Thanks to his blazing speed and sled-dog tenacity, he excels at hounding the opposition and cycling down low. Now he’s lighting up scoreboards, too.

He’s evolved into a complete player and a glue-guy to boot, the type every team needs.

I’ll close by digressing to this past summer, when it was rumored GM Jim Rutherford might be willing to part with Rust in order to shed salary.

All I can say is, thank God we didn’t trade him. At $3.5 million a year, he’s a bargain in anybody’s book.

The Puck Stops Here

Despite yielding four goals to the Kings last night, Tristan Jarry continues to top qualifying NHL goalies in goals against average (1.92), save percentage (.937) and shutouts (3). Since November 16, he’s posted an 8-2 record with a 1.79 goals against average and .941 save percentage.

Who’s Hot

Guentzel has nine points (2 goals + 7 assists) in his past five games. Rust has four goals and five assists in his past six games. Kris Letang has three goals and seven assists in his past nine. Before missing the last two games with the flu, Malkin had 13 points (4+9) in his previous seven.

Who’s Not

Jared McCann has two assists in his past eight contests. Dominik Kahun…a goal and an assist over the same span. Zach Aston-Reese is pointless in his past eight games. Since registering two goals and an assist against Winnipeg on October 13, “ZAR’s” got three points (including two goals) in his past 27 games.

The granddaddy of all ice cubes? Dominik Simon, with four assists in his past 20 games.