Bryan Rust reaches 20-goal mark as Penguins defeat Devils

There was a time when Bryan Rust wanted nothing to do with 20 goals.

Not the idea.

The discussion.

On the occasions Rust got up around 17 or 18 goals in earlier stages of his career, a reporter might ask the versatile Pittsburgh Penguins winger if potentially reaching the 20-goal mark was a target for him.

Rust would almost immediately, but politely, end that line of questioning and steer the conversation in a different direction.

Given the superstitious nature of most hockey players, Rust didn’t want to befoul his chances at hitting that mark, which typically legitimizes an NHL-er’s credentials as a “goal scorer.”

These days, there’s little reason to regard Rust as anything less than that.

During Saturday’s 4-2 home win against the New Jersey Devils, Rust scored the winning goal during the second period and reached the 20-goal plateau for the second consecutive season.

Where it not for the pandemic having cut the 2019-20 season to 69 games and limiting the 2020-21 campaign to 58 games, Rust likely would be flirting with the 30-goal barrier for the second consecutive season.

But there’s plenty of satisfaction to be found in being a 20-goal scorer.

“It’s hard to score 20 goals in this league,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “There’s lots of good players, there’s a lot of good teams and it’s hard to score 20 goals. Guys that reach that milestone are really good players, and (Rust) is one of those players.”

Sullivan has enjoyed a first-hand perspective of Rust’s growth as a goal scorer, ever since he joined the franchise as coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before being promoted to the NHL club in 2015.

“I can’t think of another guy that has developed his game as much as (Rust) has,” Sullivan said. “He’s always been a solid player, a good defensive player, a real good defensive conscience, an energy guy, a good skater. But he’s developed his offensive game so well over the time that I’ve been with him. (Rust) deserves so much credit for maximizing his potential and his work ethic to continue to grow his game.”

Rust’s goal Saturday was hardly a work of art. Taking a pass at center point of the offensive zone, Penguins defenseman Cody Ceci chopped a one-timer that deflected off of forward Jake Guentzel’s stick, then Rust’s right knee before caroming past the glove of goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood at 7 minutes, 30 seconds of the second period.

The Penguins’ other goals were a little bit more routine. That’s to say they were scored with sticks.

Forward Jeff Carter opened the scoring 9:41 into regulation with a snipe from the right circle for his 10th goal of the season and second since joining the Penguins via trade April 12.

A power-play score by forward Jared McCann at 12:50 of the first, his 13th off a rebound scramble, put the Penguins up 2-0.

After Rust’s goal, the Devils pulled within one thanks to scores by forwards Jack Hughes — his 11th at 8:45 of the second — and Miles Wood — his 15th at 10:58 of the third — against goaltender Casey DeSmith, who finished with 34 saves on 36 shots.

Penguins forward Sidney Crosby secured victory by scoring on an empty net at the 19:59 mark of the third with one-tenth of a second on the clock. Like his linemate, Crosby reached the 20-goal mark.

“What he brings, besides goals, is so many other things,” Crosby said of Rust. “His speed, the way he forechecks, he creates so much for the guys around him, too. He has obviously shown he’s willing to go to the net and create plays and score goals that way. But he does a lot of things well out there. The goals are just a result of a lot of the other little things that he does well.”