NEW YORK -- Bryan Rust almost surely will rejoin the Penguins for their game Wednesday night against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, only a week after being diagnosed with a concussion.
"Game-time decision" is what Mike Sullivan called Rust after his full participation in the team's optional morning skate. That's Sullivan-speak for he'll play unless he's run over by a Manhattan taxi this afternoon.
"I'm feeling good," Rust said. "Things are looking upwards."
By late afternoon, Josh Jooris, the fourth-line center, was sent back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL, basically sealing that Rust will return.
In other injury news, Matt Murray, also out because of a concussion, took full shots after the skate. Sullivan called that "obviously a big step for him" and described his progress as "significant." But Murray being held out of the main skate would still suggest he's not an option for Thursday night in Montreal. The Penguins have four days off after facing the Canadiens.
Rust was concussed after a hard check by the Flyers' Robert Hagg last Wednesday in Philadelphia. It is the second known concussion of his NHL career.
There's a chance, I'm told, Rust will be placed on the third line with Derick Brassard and Phil Kessel, but that's far from official. Because the skate was optional, no lines were shown.
But, if it were to happen ...
"For me," Rust said, "it's just about going out there after pucks, try to create space, be an energy guy."
More than a third of the lineup didn't take the ice for the skate. Sidney Crosby, who usually skips them, not only participated but also stayed extra. He confirmed for me afterward that was partly because of the 8:10 p.m. faceoff for national TV. Those exercising their option: Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, Patric Hornqvist, Kris Letang, Justin Schultz, Brian Dumoulin.
Based on the information I've got, lines and pairings should look like this:
Guentzel-Crosby-Sheary
Hagelin-Malkin-Hornqvist
Rust-Brassard-Kessel
Kuhnhackl-Sheahan-Rowney
Dumoulin-Letang
Oleksiak-Schultz
Maatta-Ruhwedel