Injured Penguins forward Bryan Rust could rejoin lineup

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ cratered right wing depth might get a boost as soon as Tuesday.

Forward Bryan Rust, sidelined for the past three games because of an undisclosed injury, is expected to be a “game-time” decision for a road contest against the Nashville Predators.

Typically, such a label — which coach Mike Sullivan offered after practice Monday in Cranberry — indicates a player is ready to play.

Rust participated in a full capacity in Monday’s practice for the first time since he left the lineup. While there were no five-on-five line rushes, Rust did have a prominent role on the team’s top power-play unit.

“I felt good,” Rust said. “It’s definitely a step in the right direction. It felt good to be out there practicing with the guys. Obviously, it hasn’t been a long time, but any time you’re out, it (stinks).”

Rust’s absence has been particularly odious when coupled with a longer-term undisclosed injury to Rickard Rakell, which will keep him sidelined until Dec. 16 at the earliest.

Their maladies have tested the Penguins’ depth on the top two lines for the past three games.

As a result, Drew O’Connor, who is typically a third-liner, and Alex Nylander, who recently was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, have filled in on the right side of the team’s top two lines.

A potential return by Rust would benefit the team as a whole, especially first-liners Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel, for obvious reasons.

“(O’Connor) has done a nice job stepping in on that top line,” Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves said. “But, obviously, those guys (with Rust) have chemistry. That line has been really good for us all (season). It’s always tougher to defend teams that have depth scoring. When you move (O’Connor) down to a third-line role, it really balances our offense. Obviously, it’s huge.”

Rust’s play has been a big part of the limited success the team has enjoyed this season.

Despite his three-game respite, Rust is second on the team with nine goals as part of his 17 total points. Averaging 18 minutes, 45 seconds of ice time, including 1:39 on the penalty kill, there is no shortage of ways the coaching staff utilizes him.

“He has a significant impact in so many ways,” Sullivan said. “His offensive game, I think, speaks for itself. But we use him in so many defensive situations. He’s a big part of our penalty kill. He entered this league as a defensive player, as a checker. I still think that’s the strength of his game, but he’s developed an offensive side to his game during his time in the NHL. He’s developed into a legitimate top-six forward in this league that can score goals and create opportunities for his linemates.

“I still believe that the strength of his game is in his defensive conscience. He brings that to any line that he plays on. He brings a ton of speed. He’s a great puck-pursuit guy. He helps us on the forecheck. He has the ability to catch the (opposing) rush if there’s a puck that’s turned over. He’s a very good penalty killer.

‘The impact that he has on our team, I think, is significant. When he’s not in our lineup, he’s not an easy guy to replace.”

It appears Rust will try to provide a boost to the struggling power play, given how he was deployed in Monday’s practice. The team has failed to score a goal with the man advantage in the past seven games. For the season, the Penguins are 7 for 56 (12.5%) on the power play despite having a handful of All-Stars and future members of the Hockey Hall of Fame on the payroll.

Rust doesn’t necessarily exist in that level of the mesosphere, but he has a firm grasp of what he needs to do if he’s stationed on the top power-play unit.

“Going to make plays when they’re there,” Rust said. “Going to try and get in and get loose pucks when I can. Get to the net, bang in some rebounds, tips, screens, just try to do whatever I can to score some goals.”

His malady notwithstanding, Rust is off to one of the best starts to a season in his 10-year career. Maintaining that offensive pace isn’t a complicated process coming off of his injury.

“Just keep moving my feet,” Rust said. “Don’t second-guess myself. Don’t wait for it to happen. Trust my instincts and things that I’ve learned the last 10-plus years and just keep moving my feet. Don’t hesitate out there.”

Notes: Injured defenseman P.O Joseph skated before practice. Currently designated to injured reserve, Joseph has been sidelined since Nov. 6 by an undisclosed ailment. … The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League acquired forward Peter Abbandonato and defenseman Owen Headrick from the Chicago Wolves in exchange for future considerations. Each player is signed to an AHL contract. Abbandonato attended the Pittsburgh Penguins’ training camp in September on a professional tryout contract. In one preseason game with the Penguins, he recorded one assist.