The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has imposed a three-game suspension on Penguins winger Bryan Rust for an illegal check to the head against Canucks winger Brock Boeser during the closing seconds of Sunday’s game in Vancouver. While suspended, he continues to count against Pittsburgh’s salary cap and active roster.
Rust was in the defensive zone while the Penguins were fending off a late challenge from the Canucks to tie the game. While Boeser was attempting to join a net-front battle, Rust dove down from the slot and attempted a hard hit, missing Boeser’s core entirely and striking his head with his right shoulder. Rust was given a two-minute minor on the play for a check to the head. As the game was over, there wasn’t any consequence.
In their explanation video today, DoPS deemed the head contact avoidable. “Rust takes a poor angle of approach, choosing an angle that causes him to cut across the front of Boeser’s body, missing his core,” the video states. “Rust then raises his arm and leans into contact, causing direct contact with Boeser’s head with requisite force for supplemental discipline.” It’s the first interaction Rust has had with DoPS over his 12-year career, though, making the penalty seem steep at first glance, although the fact that Boeser sustained a head injury on the play factored into the length.
Rust isn’t on pace to match the career-high 31 goals he tallied last season, but he’s still a crucial part of the Pens’ top six. The 33-year-old owns an 18-21–39 scoring line in 47 appearances while averaging a career-high 20:07 of ice time per game. For a streaking Pens team with a six-point cushion on a playoff spot, that’s a significant loss – especially with their offense clicking so well at 4.67 goals per game over their last six.
This is crazy when compared to what Florida gets away with
First offense and he gets 3 games? Rannatten from Dallas blew up someone this year and only got one game. DOPS is so inconsistent with these rulings.
then for the game before Rantanen got nothing
3 games for a guy never suspended and given a 2 minute minor? I get that refs miss calls but wow they really set an precedent for suspensions going forward.
I don’t think the minor should have any impact considering it was as time expired. If there was any time left it would have been reviewed and he’d likely be tossed
I don’t disagree, however if the refs did their jobs and reviewed they could have determined a match penalty. Regardless of when the penalty occurs it gives the appearance of laziness
The suspension is what it is, but Rantanen is a repeat offender who plays with malicious intent. For Rust to get three and Rantanen one is atrocious.
The DoPS is so incompetent and inconsistent. It’s truly negligent. My problem isn’t with Bryan Rust getting suspended 3 games for a head shot. Head shots should get harsh punishment. The problem is the lack of accountability and consistency in making these calls by the DoPS.
Miko Rantanen only got 1 game for a head shot but yet Rust gets 3 games? It makes no sense. There is clearly no standards set as it’s completely random and subjective.
Brad Marchand did a direct head shot to Mike Mathieson a month or so ago and got nothing. Don’t even get me started on the repeated head shots the Panthers have done to Brandon Hagel for 3 consecutive games and no punishments. I’m just scratching the surface here.
The NHL really needs to sort out the DoPS issues as there are definitive matters that need to be addressed and resolved as it’s a horrible look on the league.
Rantanen didn’t get anything for the game before the one he got suspended for
That just proves my point of the repeated negligence and inconsistency of the gross incompetence of the DoPS.
Rantanen didn’t deserve anything from the game before. Only reason the hit went the way it did was due to Mayfield interfering with him
Rust is one of the cleanest players I’ve ever seen.
Odd guy to make an example out of…
Love Rust, so not like him. Regardless of whatever Rantanen did, this penalty fits the crime. That was a nasty looking elbow. Hope Boeser isn’t out a while, he has a concussion history.