Penguins' Bryan Rust's status uncertain vs. Rangers; Arturs Silovs to start in net

Injured Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust is back to practicing fully, with his 2025-26 debut seemingly on the horizon.

But whether he’ll suit up Saturday night at home vs. the New York Rangers remains to be seen.

“You guys will have to wait and see,” Rust joked with reporters following the Penguins’ Saturday morning skate. “I feel good. For whenever (I suit up), I’m excited to go.”

Rust, on injured reserve since Oct. 6 with an undisclosed aliment, comes off a career-high 31-goal, 65-point campaign last season.

The 33-year-old winger, when healthy, usually occupies a first-line role next to Sidney Crosby.

Following the team’s morning skate, coach Dan Muse indicated that further discussion will be had as to Rust’s availability Saturday.

“He’s doing well and he’s progressing,” Muse said. “You’ve seen that over the last two practices and getting in there. We’re taking the steps. The next step right now is, pregame skate just ended and we need to have some conversations. We know he’s close, but conversations still need to be had.”

Arturs Silovs is scheduled to start in net Saturday night.

Muse announced Silovs as his starter following the Penguins’ morning skate in Cranberry.

Silovs, 24, started the Penguins’ season-opener Tuesday on the road vs. the Rangers, posting a 25-save shutout, the first of his NHL career, in a 3-0 win.

Those who partook in Saturday’s optional morning skate were:

Forwards: Rust, Ville Koivunen, Philip Tomasino, Filip Hallander, Anthony Mantha, Noel Acciari, Tommy Novak, Blake Lizotte, Evgeni Malkin, Justin Brazeau, Ben Kindel, Connor Dewar

Defensemen: Kris Letang, Ryan Shea, Parker Wotherspoon, Matt Dumba, Connor Clifton, Harrison Brunicke, Caleb Jones

Goalies: Silovs, Tristan Jarry

Winger Rickard Rakell and defenseman Erik Karlsson were notable non-participants.

Center Sidney Crosby briefly warmed up and took laps on the ice but departed before drills began.

Notes:

• Rangers center Vince Trocheck, a native of Upper St. Clair, will not be in the lineup Saturday. The Rangers announced he will be sidelined on a week-to-week basis due to an undisclosed injury.

• Igor Shesterkin is expected to start Saturday’s game. In Tuesday’s game, he made made 28 saves on 29 shots.

In two games this season, Shesterkin has a 1-1-0 record, a 0.50 goals against average and a .985 save percentage.

• The Rangers’ lines and pairings during Saturday’s morning skate:

10 Artemi Panarin - 93 Mika Zibanejad - 13 Alexis Lafrenière

50 Will Cuylle - 8 J.T. Miller - 43 Conor Sheary

71 Juuso Pärssinen - 42 Noah Laba - 14 Taylor Raddysh

84 Adam Edström - 39 Sam Carrick - 73 Matt Rempe

44 Vladislav Gavrikov - 23 Adam Fox

24 Carson Soucy - 17 Will Borgen

18 Urho Vaakanainen - 4 Braden Schneider

• The scheduled referees are Furman South (No. 13) and Kendrick Nicholson (No. 30) while the linesmen are Brad Kovachik (No. 71) and James Tobias (No. 61).