With just 2:48 left to play in Saturday's game against the New York Islanders, Bryan Rust was sent to the penalty box after being called for elbowing.
There was 35 seconds left on a Penguins power play at the time, so although the teams were technically 4-on-4, the Islanders pulled their goalie to get a 5-on-4 advantage - and it took them all of 21 seconds to convert and cut the deficit to two goals.
Rust watched on the edge of his seat as the Islanders continued to buzz around, until he was finally released - and found himself with the puck on his stick. He guided it into the empty net to complete the hat trick and give the Penguins a 6-3 victory.
"There was a wide array of emotions in the box there," Rust said with a wry grin after the game. "When they scored, it was definitely really nerve wracking. But our PK guys really stepped up and did a great job. Then I hopped out of the box and I got a gift right on my tape. So definitely a bit of a roller coaster there."
When asked if it was safe to assume that the mustache is staying for the foreseeable future, considering hockey players are a superstitious bunch, Rust just laughed.
"The mustache is staying for the designated time period, and then it will be gone," he said.
With the hat trick - the fourth of his career - Rust extended his point streak to six games, tying his personal best. He has collected five goals, three assists and eight points over that span.
"He's a clutch guy," Kris Letang said. "He's a guy that likes when the stakes are high. He likes to get out there and make a difference, so it's fun to see and it's fun to see him getting rewarded with a hat trick tonight."
It's not just Rust who has been getting rewarded on the scoresheet - his linemates Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel have been piling up points at a ridiculous pace.
With a goal and an assist tonight, Crosby is now on a five-game point streak (3G-7A-10PTS), which includes multi-point showings in all but one.
With two assists tonight, Guentzel is now on a six-game point streak (3G-5A-8PTS), one shy of his career-long. He has also collected points in 10 of his last 11 games (7G-6A). Going back further, he has points in 13 of his last 15 contests (7G-10A).
The trio has been the one constant through all of the injuries, particularly to the forwards. Mark Jankowski was unavailable for tonight's game after being placed on the NHL's COVID Related Absences List, making him the sixth forward on the sidelines. He joined Brandon Tanev (who was also placed on the NHL's COVID-Related Absences List), Evgeni Malkin, Kasperi Kapanen, Jason Zucker and Teddy Blueger.
So as other guys keep stepping in and stepping up, the Guentzel-Crosby-Rust line continues to set the tone. Their teammates keep pointing to their leadership as a big reason why the Penguins are still able to have success through all of the adversity, and Sullivan emphatically echoed that sentiment.
"They've been great," Sullivan said. "They're such talented players, but they're such quality people as well. They understand the circumstance and they know how much we rely on them to help us win games, so they're doing everything within their power to try to help us here and they lead the charge."
Guentzel, Crosby and Rust don't just play together at even strength - they are all members of the top power-play unit as well, and that's where they collected many of their points tonight, as it scored twice for a second straight game.
As Sullivan likes to say, nothing breaks down coverage better than a shot on goal, and that's what led to Crosby's tally. Letang put a shot on net that deflected off Guentzel, and as he was battling for it, Crosby swooped in and deposited it into the net with a backhand.
Rust's second goal, which came at even strength, was actually scored on a similar play after Letang again just wound up and put a shot on net that the winger recovered it and buried it for the score.
His first goal, which came on the power play, was a bit prettier, but they all count the same. It was a beautiful passing play where all five guys touched the puck, with Crosby one-touching a pass over to Rust, who finished it off.
With the win, the Penguins are now just two points behind the Islanders, who are tied with Washington for first place in the East Division. It's truly remarkable how the Penguins keep finding ways to win, and the Crosby line deserves so much credit for that.
"They set the tone for the attitude of the team when we're going out to play every night," Sullivan said. "No one's looking for excuses. We all have an expectation that we're going to go out and we're going to win hockey games and we have enough to win games. But they're leading through their example, first and foremost. And that's the most important way to lead, in my opinion. So just can't say enough about those guys and what they're bringing to the team right now."
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