Penguins

Updated: Rust Being Evaluated; Malkin with Crosby as Lines Scrambled

Published

2 months ago

October 28, 2024

Bryan Rust

CRANBERRY, Twp — Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust did not participate in practice Monday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Rust left Saturday’s game in Vancouver when he was crunched into the boards by Nils Hoglander. He put little to no weight on his right leg.

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said Rust is still being medically evaluated.

Center Evgeni Malkin practiced. He made a dazzling play to score Saturday but, in the process, crashed with his left shoulder or side into a goalpost. He was down on the ice briefly but remained in the game.

In fact, Malkin skated on the top line with Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell as the struggling Penguins scrambled their lines.

“They’re pretty dynamic players,” Sullivan said of Crosby and Malkin skating together. “We’re trying different combinations to see if we can create a spark for the group.

“We thought we’d give it a try in practice and see what it looked like. They had a fair amount of time together in the third period the other night in Vancouver. They had a handful of pretty good shifts. I’ve used them a lot, more so than any other year in my time together these first 10 games.”

Also on the ice Monday was forward Cody Glass. He missed Saturday’s game because of illness.

Forward Matt Nieto, who is on LTIR after knee surgery, joined practice, as did forward Blake Lizotte, who is recovering from a concussion. Lizotte was in a no-contact jersey.

“It’s an exciting day,” said Nieto, who confirmed he has been cleared for contact. “I’ve only been skating for about six to seven weeks. Prior to that, it was all off-the-ice stuff and rehab. It was a long time with some boring stuff in the gym. … Kind of at the next step in the process.”