Penguins Face Daunting Stretch Without Crosby: Rust Ready to Lead
When the Pittsburgh Penguins are at full strength, Bryan Rust might not have a letter on his jersey, but his leadership is unmistakable. Now in his 12th season with the team, Rust is a two-time Stanley Cup champion known for stepping up when it matters most. Despite the Penguins' recent struggles, missing the playoffs for the past three seasons, Rust's determination remains unwavering.
The Penguins find themselves in a challenging spot. Sidney Crosby is sidelined for at least four weeks due to an injury sustained during the Winter Olympics.
With a grueling schedule ahead-17 games in March, 14 against playoff-bound teams-the pressure is on. Yet, Rust is unfazed.
Seated at his locker, Rust anticipated the questions about Crosby's absence. “I’m sure the news about Sid is going to get out,” he said. “And I’m sure a lot of people are going to start doubting us.”
The Penguins' March schedule is brutal, featuring matchups against the Hurricanes, Bruins, Senators, and Islanders. Even with Crosby, this stretch would be tough.
“I know there was hope for Sid’s quick return,” Rust shared. “But after talking with him, I expected this might happen.”
Aware of the road ahead, Rust emphasized the need for the team to elevate their game. “There’s a whole lot of games against good teams in a short period.
We need everybody’s best. Any given night, different people need to step up.”
Rust, often the subject of trade rumors, has always been vocal about his commitment to the Penguins. “I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to stay here until we win again,” he told The Athletic in 2024.
Now, with the team performing well, the absence of their leader is a significant concern. Yet, Rust remains optimistic.
“There was a confidence in this room from the start,” he said. “That confidence has grown as we’ve progressed through the season.”
Despite a rocky December, the Penguins surged in January and February, becoming a feel-good story in the NHL. Missing the playoffs again isn’t an option for Rust.
“That confidence we had at the start is still there,” he continued. “There’s a belief, a chip on our shoulders.
We know the outside expectations, but we also know what we expect from ourselves. We believed from the beginning.”
The Penguins aim to maintain their playoff position with or without Crosby. If Crosby returns by March 26, they’ll have played 15 games without him.
“The fact is, everyone has to pick up the slack,” Noel Acciari said. “You don’t replace Sid, but we owe it to him to play our best hockey and be in a good position for his return.”
The mood in the locker room was somber, with Crosby’s situation weighing heavily on the team. “It sucks,” Tommy Novak admitted.
“But it’s hockey. We all need to step up.
We believe all four lines can play really good hockey without him.”
While some Penguins were disheartened, Rust’s resolve was clear. “There is no doubt we can keep winning,” he declared.
“People can doubt us all they want. We intend on proving them wrong.”
Practice Notes:
- Egor Chinakhov missed practice for the birth of his daughter but is expected to play against the Devils.
- Rickard Rakell will center a line with Rust and rookie Avery Hayes.
- New addition Sam Girard skated with Kris Letang and will likely pair with him against the Devils.