Jan 14, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust (17) celebrates his goal with the Penguins bench against the Seattle Kraken during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

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Pittsburgh Penguins Bryan Rust Listed Day-To-Day With Lower-Body Injury

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, raising concerns ahead of crucial matchups.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will be without top-line winger Bryan Rust once again, as head coach Mike Sullivan confirmed he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Rust left Thursday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks in the second period after a hard hit from defenseman Radko Gudas. This marks the third time Rust has dealt with a lower-body injury this season, having already missed seven games and landing on injured reserve twice in October.

Despite his injury struggles, Rust has been one of Pittsburgh’s best forwards this season, excelling alongside Sidney Crosby. He’s scored 19 goals and 38 points in 43 games, putting him on track for career highs in both categories. His current pace of 36 goals and 72 points could surpass his previous bests of 28 goals in 2023-24 and 58 points in 2021-22.

Penguins' Bryan Rust Day-To-Day With Lower-Body Injuryhttps://t.co/ItWqrB5QNE
— Pro Hockey Rumors (@prohockeyrumors) January 24, 2025

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However, staying healthy has always been a challenge for Rust. In his 11 NHL seasons, he’s only played more than 65 games three times. While he has shown flashes of brilliance, like a 50-point season streak and a productive 2022-23 campaign with 46 points in 81 games, injuries have frequently disrupted his rhythm. This season looked like a golden opportunity for him to combine consistent scoring with durability, but his frequent absences make that goal harder to achieve.

In Rust’s absence, forward Blake Lizotte is expected to rejoin the lineup when the Penguins face the Seattle Kraken on Saturday. Lizotte has been a regular on the fourth line in January but hasn’t recorded a point since December 23, extending his scoreless streak to 13 games. With Rust unavailable, Lizotte will get another chance to contribute and break his slump as the Penguins adjust their lines.

Image Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Bryan Rust

NHL

Pittsburgh Penguins

Anamika Shrivastava

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