Penguins notebook: DeSmith gets rare start in goal Saturday

The Penguins started goaltender Casey DeSmith on Saturday. It was his first start since a 6-3 road loss to the Ottawa Senators on Nov. 13. DeSmith made 18 saves on 23 shots in that contest.

Appearing in only three of the team’s first 20 games this season, DeSmith largely has struggled. In addition to a 0-2-1 record, he has a 4.72 goals-against average and an .856 save percentage. Before Saturday, his most recent win came during a 4-2 home victory against the New Jersey Devils on April 24.

Sullivan lauded DeSmith in remaining prepared despite such infrequent play.

“(DeSmith) has done a real good job (at staying ready),” Sullivan said. “Just his work habits at practice have been great. He’s doing his very best to stay ready so that when he does get the tap on the shoulder, that he puts himself in a position to be successful. He’s had a great attitude through this process. He’s looking forward to getting in the net tonight. Our expectation is that he’ll make the timely saves for us to give us the chance to win.”

Top goaltender Tristan Jarry had started the past seven consecutive games before Saturday.

Rust remains out

Penguins forward Bryan Rust missed his second consecutive game on Saturday as his team hosted the Montreal Canadiens at PPG Paints Arena.

Rust, typically the team’s right wing on the top line, suffered an undisclosed injury during warmups Friday before the Penguins’ 1-0 road win against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.

Coach Mike Sullivan indicated Rust is still being evaluated for his ailment, and his status for the team’s upcoming five-game road trip, primarily through Western Canada, is unknown.

Rust, who missed seven games throughout October and November because of a different undisclosed ailment, has been limited to 12 games and nine points (two goals, seven assists) this season while averaging 18 minutes, 13 seconds of ice time per contest.

In addition to Rust, defenseman Mark Friedman and forward Sam Lafferty were healthy scratches Saturday.

Brian Boyle back in the lineup

With Rust absent, forward Brian Boyle has replaced him in the lineup. Before Friday, Boyle had been a healthy scratch for the previous five games.

During Friday’s game, Boyle was deployed primarily as center on the team’s third line with Danton Heinen on the right wing and Dominik Simon at left wing. Logging 11:20 of ice time on 17 shifts, including 1:36 on the penalty kill, Boyle did not record a shot attempt and was 3 for 8 (38%) in faceoffs.

“Brian had a great game for us,” Sullivan said. “He’s a really conscientious defensive player. It’s another faceoff man. He’s a real good shot-blocker, he’s a good penalty killer. He brings an element of physicality to our game. He had a really good game for us. We utilized him late in the game there, defending a lead. We had two center icemen on the ice int eh even there was an icing or one of our centers gets kicked out. It allows the center icemen to be a little bit more aggressive in the faceoff circle. We used him in those capacities. I thought he did a really good job.”

Before Saturday, the Boyle — the Penguins’ oldest (37) and largest (6-foot-6, 245 pounds) player — had appeared in 15 games and scored two goals while averaging 10:41 of ice time per contest.