PITTSBURGH -- Penguins rookie Bryan Rust, sidelined for most of the third period of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals after taking a hit to the head from San Jose Sharks winger Patrick Marleau, returned to the lineup for the Penguins in Game 2 on Wednesday night.
Rust, 24, had been considered day to day with the injury, although he did skate during an optional practice on Wednesday morning.
Rust has turned into a pivotal player for the Penguins during their march to their first Stanley Cup finals appearance since 2009.
He scored both goals in a Game 7 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference finals and scored the first goal in Game 1 of the final series, which the Penguins ultimately won 3-2.
The Pontiac, Michigan, native has six goals and three assists playing mostly on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Chris Kunitz. He leads all rookies in the playoffs in goals scored and enters Game 2 on a three-game goal-scoring streak and a four-game point streak.
Marleau was assessed a minor penalty on the play for a hit to the head. NHL officials decided the hit was not serious enough to warrant supplemental discipline, so Marleau will be in the San Jose lineup for Game 2, as well.