Pittsburgh Penguins' Bryan Rust (17) and Edmonton Oilers' Evan Bouchard (2) battle for the puck during third period NHL action, in Edmonton on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
January 27, 2026 - 5:10 AM
NEW YORK — Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust has been suspended three games for an illegal check to the head.
The discipline, announced Tuesday by the NHL's department of player safety, comes after Rust caught Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser in the head with his elbow in the final seconds of Pittsburgh's 3-2 victory on Sunday.
Boeser crumpled to the ice after the blow and had to be helped to the locker room by his teammates and trainers.
The Canucks placed him on injured reserve Monday.
The NHL's department of player safety says in a video that Rust could have avoided hitting Boeser in the head, and noted that the play resulted in an injury.
He has been fined US$80,078.13, which will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 27, 2026.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2026