Penguins’ Bryan Rust leaves game with lower-body injury

Rust, 34, did not come out for the third period, so it’s likely that the injury occured sometime during the second period. The exact cause or nature of the injury is unclear.

The Pontiac, Michigan native put up two assists on Monday before leaving, giving him three goals and two assists for five points in seven games this season. He missed the first three games of the Penguins’ season with an upper-body injury he suffered late in the preseason.

If Rust is forced to miss a significant amount of time, Pittsburgh will have to find someone to take his place on Crosby’s right wing.

Last season, Rust notched 29 goals and 36 assists to tie his career best of 65 points in 72 games, before contributing a goal and an assist for two points during Pittsburgh’s first-round playoff loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.

Selected by the Penguins in the third round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Rust debuted for the Penguins in the 2014-15 season after a four-year collegiate career with Notre Dame. He helped Pittsburgh win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.

Now in his 13th season with the Penguins, Rust has compiled 235 goals and 270 assists for 505 points in 716 games played. He is in the fifth season of a six-year, $30.75 million contract.

Through 10 games this season, Pittsburgh has just a 3-6-1 record, putting them in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division with seven points.

The Penguins will begin a three-game homestand when they host the Florida Panthers on Thursday.