Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust has been suspended three games due to an illegal check to the head of Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser.
The NHL announced the punitive measure on Tuesday afternoon.
Rust struck Boeser late in regulation during the Penguins’ 3-2 road win against the Canucks on Sunday. He was issued a minor penalty for the hit after the game was completed.
During a goalmouth scramble near the Penguins’ net, Rust’s right shoulder struck Boeser’s jaw. Boeser fell to the ice before eventually leaving the ice in discomfort.
On Monday, the Canucks placed Boeser on injured reserve.
Factors the NHL considered in suspending Rust were explained in a video issued by the league.
A narrator explained the league’s criteria for punishing Rust.
“During net-front scramble at the Penguins’ goal, Boeser looks to collect the puck as Rust skates in from the slot. As Boeser finds the puck and attempts to play it towards the net, Rust loads up and delivers a high, hard check that misses Boeser’s core, picking his head and making it the main point of contact on a check where such head contact was avoidable. This is an illegal check to the head.
“It is important to note that both elements of the illegal check to the head rule are satisfied on this play.
“First, the head is the main point of contact as Rust’s shoulder and arm make direct contact with Boeser’s head and it is the head that absorbs the majority of the force.
“Second, the head contact on this play is avoidable. Rust takes a poor angle of approach, choosing an angle that causes him to cut across the front of Boeser’s body, missing his core. Rust then raises his arm and leans into contact, causing direct contact with Boeser’s head, with requisite force for supplemental discipline.
“If Rust wants to deliver this check, he must stay low and take an angle that hits through the shoulder and core rather than one that makes the head the main point of contact.”
A request to speak with Rust following a practice in Cranberry on Tuesday was declined by a team spokesperson.
Penguins coach Dan Muse, who is usually hesitatant to offer commentary of any kind on league officials, was locquatious in critiquing the length of the suspension.
“Three games is a lot,” Muse said. “I don’t agree with it. As an organization, we don’t agree with it.
“They have a tough job in the league in terms of looking at these things. Bryan Rust is a guy who you know what you’re going to get from him every night. He’s a guy that works his (backside) off every day. He’s a guy that’s heart and soul. One thing he’s not is a dirty player. He’s gonna do everything he can to help the team win. But he’s done it in a clean way.
“I’ve have coached against this guy. He’s been in the league for 12 years, 750-plus games. You see his track record. He’s a guy who works, but he also plays the game the right way, and he plays it clean. And so based on that track record, based on the player, who he is, what he’s shown for a very long time in this league, I disagree with it.
“The league’s got a tough job, but in terms of the play, it’s the end of the game, he’s doing everything he can to just get back to the net front, not allow another shot on net in the closing seconds. The way he comes in there, he’s trying to get on the defensive side. When you look at the video, there’s a lot of things happening there. There’s the visual of it that you see, but there’s also, I think, the intent and how all those things unfolded.
“It’s going to be now an opportunity for guys to step up in his absence while he’s out. Obviously, (Rust is) a guy who, he plays just about every role you can imagine on this hockey team, and does it very well. And so now it’s going to be an opportunity for other guys there to come in and to get an opportunity to fill that hole while he’s gone.”
This marks the first time in Rust’s 12-year career he has been subject to supplementary discipline, either by suspension or fine.
Per a statement by the league, Rust will forfeit $80,078.13 in salary. That money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Typically deployed on the right wing of the top line as well as both special teams units, Rust is the Penguins’ third-leading scorer this season with 39 points (18 goals, 21 assists) in 47 games. He averages 20:07 of ice time.
Note: Penguins defenseman Jack St. Ivany is expected be sidelined eight weeks following a surgical procedure on his left hand.
