Pittsburgh Penguins' forward Bryan Rust was a late scratch ahead of an important Tuesday game against the Detroit Red Wings - and on the same night the team was finally getting some good news on the injury front.
As of a half hour before puck drop against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, Pittsburgh Penguins' forward Bryan Rust was slated to be in the lineup.
But, following warm-ups, something evidently changed.
Rust was a last-minute scratch for Pittsburgh's important tilt against the Red Wings, and Penguins PR later said that Rust's sudden absence in the lineup was due to a lower-body injury. It's unclear when or how Rust sustained the injury at this point.
The 33-year-old right wing has registered 27 goals and 61 points in 67 games this season, and he has eight goals and 21 points in his last 16 games.
Rust is just the latest in a long line of Penguins' injuries this season, and even when the Penguins appear to be getting healthier, someone else goes down. Rust's late scratch occurred on the same night that the Penguins got Evgeni Malkin - who has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury - back in the lineup.
The Penguins won a critical matchup against the New York Islanders, 8-3, on Monday, and they can create even more separation from the rest of the Eastern Conference wild card picture with a win against Detroit in regulation on Tuesday.
Forward Avery Hayes slotted into Tuesday's lineup for Rust. Further details will be provided on his status once they are shared by the team. Join The Hockey News - Pittsburgh Penguins Community for the latest.
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