Bryan Rust Out Six Weeks as Penguins' Injury Bug Strikes Again

The Pittsburgh Penguins are currently finding out how much duct tape it takes to hold an NHL roster together. Bryan Rust is officially out for at least six weeks with a lower-body injury, turning a bad week in Pittsburgh into a full-blown crisis.

Daily Faceoff reported the timeline Thursday, confirming Rust will be parked on injured reserve until at least early December. He left Monday’s 5-4 loss to the Utah Hockey Club in the second period and never came back, leaving a massive hole in the top six.

"Daily Faceoff reported Rust is out at least six weeks with a lower-body injury."

This is a brutal blow for a guy who just cannot catch a break. Rust started the season on the shelf with an upper-body issue, finally got back on the ice, and immediately caught another bad beat. The 34-year-old is coming off back-to-back 65-point seasons, proving he can still produce at a high level when his body cooperates.

The problem is the cooperating part. Rust has missed at least 10 games in each of the last three seasons, making his medical chart read like a CVS receipt. You do not just replace a guy who seamlessly rides shotgun with Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, especially when the team is already bleeding goals.

The Penguins are currently riding a three-game losing streak where they gave up 16 combined goals to the Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, and Utah. Losing a reliable two-way winger like Rust is the exact opposite of what you want when your defense is actively handing out free samples in the slot. Bettors looking at Pittsburgh's upcoming moneylines might want to factor in just how thin this forward group is getting.

Pittsburgh has to figure out a patch job immediately with the defending champion Florida Panthers coming to town next. If they cannot find someone to absorb Rust's minutes without drowning, this early-season slide is going to get ugly fast.