CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Bryan Rust got back on the ice Monday.
Sidney Crosby got a bigger role in practice.
And the Penguins got confirmation that Kris Letang's positive COVID-19 test result was, in fact, correct.
Rust and Letang certainly will miss the Penguins' game against the Lightning Tuesday at 7:08 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena, and Crosby seems like a long shot to play then, although Mike Sullivan did not explicitly rule him out after after practice.
"Obviously, we want to get Sid in the lineup as quickly as we possibly can," Sullivan said. "He's that much of a difference-maker for us. But we also want to make sure we do it in a safe manner. That's an important aspect of it. We'll rely ... on our medical team that I think does such a great job in preparing our players for a return to play, and making sure we do it in the most safe manner possible. The fact that Sid is starting to participate consistently in our team practices is real encouraging, and that suggests he's a whole lot closer."
Crosby, who is recovering from surgery on his left wrist, centered the No. 2 unit, with Jason Zucker and Danton Heinen on his wings, for most of the line rushes late in the workout, although Drew O'Connor started there before getting work on both wings.
Crosby also subbed in for Heinen on the No. 2 power play when special teams were the focus earlier in the workout.
Rust, who is Crosby's usual right winger when both are heathy, sustained an unspecified lower-body injury during the third period of a 5-4 overtime loss at Florida Oct. 14, when he absorbed a big hit from Panthers defenseman MacKenzie Weegar.
He worked out on the ice with Evgeni Malkin, who is recovering from knee surgery, and skills coach Ty Hennes.
And while getting back on skates is a significant step in Rust's recovery, Sullivan said that his status remains week-to-week.
"He's just in the process of going through the rehab," Sullivan said. "The fact that he's on the ice is encouraging. He will continue to go through the process. His status hasn't changed. ... The biggest indication that his status changes is when he starts to join the team practice. That's when it turns from a week-to-week thing to, potentially, a day-to-day thing. He's not there yet."
MORE FROM PRACTICE
• Tampa Bay, the two-time defending champion, is off to a lackluster 2-2-1 start, including a 6-2 loss at home to the Penguins in the regular-season opener, but its lineup remains one of the most imposing in the NHL. "They have some high-scoring offensive players and ... they're a good defensive team," Tristan Jarry said.
• Jeff Carter, who is in the COVID-19 protocol after recording a positive test for coronavirus, did not practice Monday.
• Mark Friedman, who moved into the lineup when Letang tested positive, talked about the importance of not straying from the strengths of his game, particularly his skating. "I'm just going to go out there and play my game," he said. "Not do anything. Do what I've been doing to get to this point." He also said he has worked on the mental aspects of his job via "yoga, mental stuff, breathing stuff," adding that "It's nice to get in touch with your mind and knowing when to let things go, which has helped me a lot."
• Sullivan, on why the Penguins have been able to reduce the number of odd-man breaks they've allowed this season. "The key is just the (attention to) details, and just making the right decision. We've got to be smart when we pinch. We've got to make sure our forwards support the pinches with good reloads and that we stay on the right side of the puck and that we stay on the right side of people."
• Jarry is 16-1-2 in his past 19 regular-season decisions at PPG Paints Arena. He said he had "no idea" of the roll he is on at home, but his teammates are well aware of how he's performed through the early days of this season. "He's been quite incredible," Friedman said. "We have the most confidence in the world in (Jarry) to get the job done." Jarry is 3-0-1, with a .943 save percentage and 1.47 goals-against average in four starts.
Practice personnel combinations:
Jake Guentzel-Evan Rodrigues-Kasperi Kapanen
Jason Zucker-Sidney Crosby-Danton Heinen
(Drew O'Connor subbed in on both wings)
Zach Aston-Reese-Teddy Blueger-Brock McGinn
Dominik Simon-Brian Boyle-Sam Lafferty
Brian Dumoulin-John Marino
Mike Matheson-Chad Ruhwedel
Marcus Pettersson-Mark Friedman
No. 1 power play: Marino, Zucker, Rodrigues, Kapanen, Guentzel
No. 2 power play: Matheson, O'Connor, Pettersson, Heinen/Crosby, Simon
