CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Bryan Rust and Chad Ruhwedel will be out of the Penguins' lineup "longer-term," Mike Sullivan announced after practice Wednesday afternoon at the Lemieux Sports Complex. And when Sullivan has used that description in the past, he's referred to being out weeks rather than days.
So, yeah, for anyone still keeping up, that's a quarter of the roster that's out.
While clinging to the East's eighth and final Stanley Cup playoff spot with 19 games remaining.
"It's part of the game," Sullivan said. "It's going to provide opportunities for others to step into a more significant role. They've got to embrace that challenge. And we believe we have capable people."
Both Rust and Ruhwedel were injured Tuesday night in Columbus, Rust apparently to his lower left leg, Ruhwedel apparently to his left arm.
Those two joined Kris Letang (upper body) and Brian Dumoulin (concussion) out of action. Sullivan described both those players as "progressing" but added they haven't resumed skating, which has to be at least a little red flag. Olli Maatta, who is on the NHL's Injured Reserve list, is also out for weeks because of a separated left shoulder.
Rust had been skating on the third line alongside Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann, though he'd spent the previous month on the first line alongside Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel. After scoring once in his first 29 games, Rust had 16 goals in the past 33, arguably performing at his career peak. He also was a vital cog on the penalty-kill, notably when the Penguins are reduced to three men.
Ruhwedel had played the past seven games after being a healthy scratch for the previous 37 and, for the most part, had acquitted himself well.
One reinforcement arrived in the form of newly acquired defenseman Erik Gudbranson, and another, Teddy Blueger, returned Monday to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL, was recalled on an emergency basis following the practice. But more might be needed if Letang and/or Dumoulin remain unavailable. The next game is Friday at Buffalo, with another the following night in Montreal.
Here are the lines/pairs that were used in practice:
Guentzel—Crosby—Hornqvist
Aston-Reese—Malkin—Kessel
McCann—Bjugstad—Simon
Wilson—Cullen—(Recchi)
Johnson—Schultz
Pettersson—Gudbranson
Riikola—Trotman
The next practice had been scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, but the team announced late afternoon that was canceled. That makes the next on-ice session the morning skate, 11:30 a.m. Friday, in Buffalo.
