When Bryan Rust wristed that puck into the empty net Saturday night here at the Prudential Center, it accomplished two things:

First -- and still most importantly to these players, despite the Stanley Cup playoffs being out of reach -- it sealed the Penguins' 4-2 win over the Devils. After overcoming an early two-goal deficit with goals from Evgeni Malkin, Valtteri Puustinen and Sidney Crosby, Rust finished his with 1:35 left in regulation:

Second, for Rust, it represented a career high in goals, his 29th, surpassing his previous high of 28 set last season. And with two games left, 30 is certainly attainable.

"It's special," Rust said of his 29th. "The team success is first, and you obviously want to win games, win championships. But second to that is personal success. So anytime you can hit new milestones and get new career highs, especially after 10 years, that means you're probably doing something right. That means a lot to me. But it's only 29, and there's obviously a lot more."

Rust has produced at this pace before, but extenuating circumstances got in the way. He was on a 40-goal pace in the first COVID-shortened season, and over a 30-goal pace in the following shortened season. Last season, he was on a 37-goal pace in an 82-game season but was limited to 62 games due to injury. Even this season, had he played every game -- rather than the projected 71 -- he'd be on pace to score 38 goals.

He's had his share of injuries, for sure, but it wouldn't be fair to slap the "injury-prone" label on him. Because his injuries, largely, are a result of the hard nature of his game. Sure, he could dial it in and find himself out of the lineup less often. But then he'd be without what makes him the player he is -- the physicality, the shot-blocking, the willingness to go to the battle areas and do whatever it takes.

"He plays the game hard," Mike Sullivan said after this game. "He puts himself in harm's way. And when you play the game the right way like he does, it's hard to stay healthy, because he plays so hard, and because of his willingness to do a lot of those things where he makes sacrifices physically to help us win."

Rust's milestone is more than staying healthy. He may be 32, but he's still continuing to take steps and grow into his role, and that's being Sidney Crosby's most consistent, established winger. And in the first full post-Jake Guentzel era season, in a time in which that third spot on that line could continue to feature a young group of forwards rotating in to get their shot, as Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen have already been doing, that stability Rust brings is huge.

That goes for the top power-play unit, too. The Penguins have tried a lot of combinations and shuffling this year -- Evgeni Malkin on the second unit, rotating the defensemen on the top unit, bumping Kevin Hayes to the top power play for a big body at the net front, mixing in the young rookies -- but Crosby and Rust have been anchored.

That pairing paid off for the game-winning goal here, with Rust finding Crosby for a tap-in:

"That entire power play, we were working hard, we had some good movement, had a couple of chances" Rust told me. "Ville won a race for the puck and got it to (Matt Grzelcyk), who made a nice play to me. I was able to find Sid back-door."

Rust's name was thrown around in trade speculation leading up to this year's NHL deadline, even though he had a full no-movement clause. That's a clause he had zero interest in waiving, telling me, "Pittsburgh is my home. This organization has been my family for a long time, and I don't want to be anywhere else." Kyle Dubas never approached Rust about a potential trade, so Rust didn't have to use that right.

Rust loses all trade protection in his contract July 1, and he'll remain without that protection for the final three years of his contract. But moving Rust would likely be ill-advised at this phase of the Penguins' build-up. For one, if the goal is to compete at some point while Crosby is still around, Rust would be a big part of that, especially with a reasonable $5.125 million cap hit. What he brings can't be replaced at that cost, especially under a rising cap. But also, as the organization continues to promote prospects from the AHL, having Crosby-Rust as an established pairing can be helpful in acclimating a younger third member of that line.

Rust, of course, also is a vital voice and presence when it comes to setting the culture. When Sullivan or Dubas talk of the Penguins' "core," Rust could be included in that group, too.

"He's a terrific hockey player," Sullivan said. "He just represents everything I think that it means to be a Pittsburgh Penguin with his approach, his work ethic, his passion for the game and how he plays it."