The big news item heading into the second game of the Stanley Cup Final for the Penguins is the status of right winger Bryan Rust. Rust was on the wrong end of a Patrick Marleau headshot in Game 1 and had to leave the game as a result of it.
Today Bryan Rust joined his teammates for the morning skate which is a good sign. If he was still having symptoms he wouldn't (read that as shouldn't) be allowed to take part in any physical activity. If Rust is able to play and he really does not have any lingering effects from the hit he sustained that is a big plus for the Penguins considering how he has been playing. His goals get the most notoriety (they should) but his ability on the forecheck to pressure the oppositions defensemen was key in neutering Tampa Bay's ability to set up their stretch pass that was beating the Penguins with regularity in the middle of the series. His speed will do the same thing to the Sharks defenders. The less controlled exits the Sharks have the better the Penguins will be. Players like Rust cause havoc on that front.
Here are the best line combinations in the playoffs based on score-adjusted shot attempts
Possession for most common playoffs line combos.
— Sean Tierney (@SeanTierneyTss) June 1, 2016
When together, Malkin, Rust, and Kunitz are pretty good. #NHL pic.twitter.com/ICPoEuIjrE
The Kunitz-Malkin-Rust line hasn't been together a ton but in the sample they have been together they've been able to drive play. It wasn't until Bryan Rust started scoring goals that their process was rewarded with tangible results. Rust has caught 'lightning in a bottle' and it has been great for the Penguins.
If for some reason Bryan Rust has a setback the likely play would be to put Beau Bennett on the right wing with Evgeni Malkin. In 197 minutes at even-strength the two players control 58.5% of the shot attempts at even-strength. Those numbers are spread throughout the past four seasons, but it has worked in the past. Bennett plays a different style of play than Rust but if anybody can adjust to playing with slower players it would be Evgeni Malkin who enjoys playing east to west buying time for others and himself.
Rust says he "feels good so far." Doesn't indicate whether he'll play tonight. #Pens
— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) June 1, 2016
Rust stayed on the ice after the morning skate wrapped up for most of the other players. It is usually a sign of a player who won't be getting into the lineup but with a concussion they might just be giving him some more activity to see how he responds.
Rust: "Just seeing how things go and how I feel after skate and moving through this afternoon. So far, so good." -MC
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) June 1, 2016
To nobody's surprise Mike Sullivan said Bryan Rust is a "game-time decision".
Many of the players on the San Jose Sharks admitted to not playing the way they wanted to in Game 1. The most predictable thing about Game 2 is that the Sharks will be flying off of the first faceoff tonight. Look for San Jose to utilize their cycle game better which will lead to more opportunities for their defensemen to shoot with traffic. A guy like Joe Pavelski is very dangerous in that situation.
Speaking of Pavelski the Penguins will be looking to stop him with the HBK line
#Pens using HBK Line vs. Pavelski line in defensive role. Sullivan: Responsible defensively & have offensive threat -SK
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) June 1, 2016
This matchup worked out in the Penguins favor last game. The HBK line led the Penguins forwards on the possession front despite being thrown to the wolves. The only thing I would change from Sullivan's standpoint is not throwing the fourth line against the Sharks top line coming off of whistles/TV timeouts in the defensive zone. Utilize the advantage of being the home team. Don't give yourself an undesirable matchup. This happened a few times in Game 1.
With HBK taking the Thornton line matchup it opened up the Crosby line to take advantage of the Sharks bottom six forwards. San Jose's depth players did not have a great performance on Monday night. The lineup configuration that has Crosby, Malkin, and Kessel on separate lines was designed in order to achieve just that. One line can absorb the best the other team has to offer and the others can pick on the weaker lines from the opposition. This isn't quite the "3 center approach" during the Jordan Staal days but it is the same concept. The Sharks do have quality forward depth but you can see even with that depth how difficult it is to match up against the Penguins these days.
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