Penguins forward Bryan Rust remains a reliable 20-goal scorer

It doesn’t have a name. But Rickard Rakell can identify it when it’s about to happen.

“When he has the separation and gets the cross-over starting and moves the puck to his forehand, you know it’s coming,” the Pittsburgh Penguins winger said. “It’s his signature move, and he’s really good at it. As much as he can use it, it’s great for us.”

The maneuver Rakell outlined belongs to linemate Bryan Rust, and it has largely become the most recognizable fashion by which Rust creates offense from his station on the Penguins’ top line.

There’s really nothing too complex about the tactic. Demanding, yes. But not complicated.

Rust, a right-handed shot, will dash up the left-wing boards of the offensive zone, get a step or two on a poor, unsuspecting defenseman then cut across the front of the net in hopes of tucking in a forehand shot. And if that initial salvo is denied, ideally, a rebound is created for Rust or a teammate to clean up.

Pittsburgh goal!

Scored by Bryan Rust with 09:57 remaining in the 2nd period.

Assisted by Sidney Crosby.

Montreal: 1
Pittsburgh: 2#PITvsMTL #GoHabsGo #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/IFF25Oa40D

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) December 13, 2024

“A coach of mine growing up said, ‘Hey, if you’ve got the puck and you’ve got a step, take it to the net,’” Rust said. “Either it can go in, or it can create a scoring chance. I’ve just tried to keep that mindset all throughout college, pro, NHL, all of it. If you’ve got a step, it’s never a bad play to take it there.”

What do you call that?

“It’s just ‘go to the net,’ ” Rust guffawed.

That approach has allowed Rust to be a 20-goal scorer in the NHL for six consecutive seasons.

His 20th goal this season came through easier circumstances Saturday. In a 3-0 home win against the Nashville Predators, he airmailed a forehand shot from the center red line for an empty netter.

Empty net goal for Pittsburgh!

Scored by Bryan Rust with 02:01 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Rickard Rakell and Sidney Crosby.

Pittsburgh: 3
Nashville: 0#NSHvsPIT #LetsGoPens #Smashville pic.twitter.com/GHYmAxkmJ4

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) February 2, 2025

Someone has to score them. And Rust was blessed to be in a position to do so as his team protected a slim lead late in regulation.

“Still a special milestone even though that 20th was an empty netter,” Rust said. “For me, it’s always just about trying to get better and keep working on things that I might not be great (at) but keep doing the things that have made me successful. That kind of mindset has helped me be consistent in this league and help create offense over the last six years.”

With a track record of reaching 20 goals for more than half a decade, does he have an expectation of reaching the mark entering a season?

“I know if I work hard and do things I should — obviously, there’s going to be ups and downs throughout the season — I would say I expect it out of myself,” Rust said. “Just helping the team win games in the positions I’m in — playing with (forward Sidney Crosby), playing on the power play — I think it’s a good role to play for me to help this team create offense.”

At the same time, his defensive acumen is largely why he routinely gets those types of opportunities.

“He plays the game the right way,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “There’s an honesty to his game, just conscientious in all three zones on both sides of the puck. I talk at length about how his offensive game has really developed. … He’s always had a defensive conscious to his game, but he’s added that dimension, that offensive dimension to his game that makes him the player that he is. He’s just a really good player in this league and has the ability to play all over the lineup. He brings honesty to any line that he’s on.”

The other occupants on that line concur.

“He has his pillars,” Rakell said. “He’s always going to the net. He’s scoring goals around the net. He’s just a dangerous player. Good at tipping pucks. He can score in a lot of different ways, using his speed and challenging defensemen. Also, reliable defensively. He gets to be on the ice a lot when the other team (pulls) the goalie. But he creates so much with his speed and just straight lines taking the puck to the net.

“Good things happen when he does that.”

While much of Rust’s offense comes through going to the cage and being a nuisance, he’s not exactly a dullard when it comes to simply shooting the puck with precision.

Power play goal for Pittsburgh!

Scored by Bryan Rust with 18:51 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Matt Grzelcyk and Michael Bunting.

Buffalo: 1
Pittsburgh: 4#PITvsBUF #SabreHood #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/HaWp3PoKXB

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) January 18, 2025

A high-volume shooter earlier in his NHL career, he is a bit more economical with how and when he releases the puck these days.

“Instead of just trying to shoot the puck maybe as hard as I can or shooting in the same spots every time, I’ve tried to be a little bit more deceptive with my release and have a little bit of a quicker release,” Rust said. “And see how other guys shoot the puck and score goals. Maybe looking at their body position. Then over the summer, you’ve just got to try to mix it into drills, think about it and hopefully, it can translate.”

One thing Rust hasn’t changed much is an aversion to talking about approaching 20 goals.

Midway through the 2019-20 season, as he was about to arrive at the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career, Rust, then a 27-year-old, largely declined any questions from reporters about the significance of the plateau.

Today, the 32-year-old maintains an embargo of sorts when it comes to discussion of the topic.

“No, I still don’t talk about it,” Rust said. “I just did get asked about it recently. The last few years, until after it happened, kind of the same thing. Still don’t talk about it. Superstitious thing. It’s something that brings me a lot of pride that I’ve been able to score goals in this league, at least on a consistent basis.”

With 28 games remaining this season, he has plenty of runway to reach that next barrier that, at least for Rust, does not have a name.

Let’s just say it can be identified as one more than 29 goals.

“We’ll talk about that when I get there,” Rust said. “If I get there.”

Notes: Forward Evgeni Malkin skated before practice in Cranberry. He remains designated to injured reserve because of an undisclosed ailment that has sidelined him for three games. … According to a report from European outlet Aftonbladet, Rakell will be added to Sweden’s roster as an injury replacement for the upcoming Four Nations Face-Off tournament.