Penguins Practice: Rust Leaves Ice Before Drills Begin; Several Others Absent

Bryan Rust, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ first-line right winger, was the first forward on the ice for their practice at PPG Paints Arena today.

He also was the first one to leave the ice.

In fact, he did it long before the first drill began.

UPDATE: Coach Mike Sullivan updated the Penguin injuries, including Rickard Rakell and Chad Ruhwedel. Click here for the Penguins news.

Rust stepped onto the ice about 15 minutes before the workout was scheduled to start, but collected his sticks and returned to the dressing room after a couple of minutes.

There was no obvious evidence of a physical problem, but that possibility can’t be ruled out.

Two injured players, winger Vinnie Hinostroza and defenseman John Ludvig, took part in the workout, but forwards Rickard Rakell and Matt Nieto and defensemen Chad Ruhwedel and P.O Joseph also were missing.

Hinostroza filled in for Rust on the No. 1 line with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel and fourth-line center Noel Acciari replaced Rakell on the second unit, with Evgeni Malkin and Reilly Smith.

With Acciari, Nieto and Hinostroza removed from the bottom-six mix, the Penguins deployed a third line with four members — Lars Eller, Drew O’Connor, Radim Zohorna and Jeff Carter.