Injury Notes: Rust, Holmstrom, Wright

Bryan Rust of the Penguins is out tonight against Detroit with a lower-body injury, shared by the team right before puck drop. It’s unexpected considering that he played a full game last night against the Islanders, putting up two points. In his place, Avery Hayes comes into a game with both the Penguins and Red Wings desperate to pick up two points with playoff spots up for grabs. 

The 33-year-old took a maintenance day last Saturday, but he’s mostly been healthy this year. Rust is having one of his best seasons, with 61 points in 67 games, good for second best on the team. He is closing in on his career best of 65, set last year, also playing the most throughout his 12-year career, averaging over 20 minutes a night for the first time. 

Hayes, a 23-year-old undrafted rookie, by no means will match Rust’s speed and skill, but the fellow Michigan native has made a name for himself as a potential bottom six fixture. Hayes has three goals in 12 games, earning his time after strong AHL efforts with 35 points in 39 games. 

With games weighing as much as ever, Rust will likely return Thursday in Tampa Bay. 

Elsewhere across the league:

• Islanders forward Simon Holmström is absent for tonight’s crucial game in Buffalo, noted by Stefen Rosner of NHL.com. As a result Anthony Duclair will slot into a top six role. Holmström is thought to be day-to-day with an upper-body ailment. A first rounder back in 2019, the now 24-year-old has steadily grown into a solid secondary scorer for the Islanders. With one more tally he’ll tie last season’s breakout 20 goal campaign. A brutal loss last night against division foe Pittsburgh dealt a blow to New York’s playoff odds, but they’re still clinging onto the third spot in the Metropolitan with seven games to go. Holmström will hope to be back helping matters by Friday as they host Philadelphia. Whatever happens in the coming days, hardly anybody would have expected his team to have the season they’ve put together. 
• Seattle’s Shane Wright is sidelined tonight with his own upper-body injury, per the team. Unlike those listed above, the Kraken are close to elimination from the playoffs unless something shocking happens. Either way, they’ll take on the Oilers one man down. One a top draft prospect, selected fourth overall in 2022, Wright’s development has stalled out in Seattle. Last year he showed promise with 44 points, but he’s followed that up with just 26 in 72 games. Still, he has been durable, not missing a single contest until today. At even strength Wright has not moved the needle like he’s capable of, and he’s not been able to hold down a top six role, averaging 13:49 a night. Subject of trade rumors earlier in the year, assuming he returns later this week, there’s a strong possibility it’ll be his final games for the club.