Pittsburgh Penguins' Bryan Rust rises slowly after being checked to the ice by San Jose Sharks' Patrick Marleau during the third period in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final series in Pittsburgh on May 30, 2016. Penguins forward Bryan Rust will be a game-time decision for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final.Rust left the series opener on Monday at the midway point of the third period after he was in the head by San Jose winger Patrick Marleau. The 24-year-old went out for one more shift after the hit before leaving the game for good. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Gene J. Puskar
Republished June 01, 2016 - 5:07 PM
Original Publication Date June 01, 2016 - 8:55 AM
PITTSBURGH - Penguins forward Bryan Rust will play in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final.
The 24-year-old, who was forced to exit Game 1 because of an upper-body injury, took part in the pre-game warmup and was declared ready to play in Game 2.
He will return to his usual spot on the right side of a line with Evgeni Malkin and Chris Kunitz.
Rust left the series opener on Monday night at the midway point of the third period after he was in the head by San Jose winger Patrick Marleau. He went out for one more shift after the hit before leaving the game for good.
Marleau was not suspended for the hit on the Michigan native, who has made a big impact for the Penguins this spring. He scored two goals in the club's Game 7 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference final, adding the first goal in Monday's 3-2 win over the Sharks.
He has six goals in the post-season, establishing a rookie team record.
Rust did not practise on Tuesday but took part in an optional morning skate on Wednesday morning.
The Sharks also added a healthy body back to their lineup with winger Matt Nieto returning to play for the first time in more than three weeks. Nieto hasn't played because of an upper-body injury suffered in Game 6 of San Jose's second round series against Nashville.
He'll play alongside Chris Tierney and Joel Ward.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016