NHL Buzz: Rust week to week for Penguins with lower-body injury

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Pittsburgh Penguins

Bryan Rust is week to week for the Penguins because of a lower-body injury.

The forward left early in the third period of a 4-3 loss on Saturday, favoring his right leg after battling with Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Hoglander along the boards.

Rust played right wing on the second line with center Evgeni Malkin on Saturday for the Penguins (3-6-1), who have lost five straight (0-4-1). He has four points (three goals, one assist) in eight games, mostly at right wing on the first line with center Sidney Crosby.

Crosby, at center, and Malkin, at left wing, took line rushes together in practice Monday.

"They’re pretty dynamic players," coach Mike Sullivan said. "So, we’re trying different combinations to see if we can’t create a spark for the group. ... I've used them a lot, more so than any other year in my time, together these first 10 games, whether it be selectively, situationally, after icings or in particular times in the games when we felt we were trying to create momentum." -- Wes Crosby

Montreal Canadiens

Juraj Slafkovsky returned to the lineup for the Canadiens against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday.

Slafkovsky missed the previous three games because of an upper-body injury.

"It feels great to be back," Slafkovsky said. "It [stinks] to watch the games and I'm just happy I'm back, and we just want to keep winning.

"First of all, it has nothing to do with my shoulder. My shoulder is completely fine and it was something else. I won't tell you, obviously, but it's a weird injury. I haven't heard about anything like this before, but it's all good now, I think, and I'm able to play."

Slafkovsky, who has six points (one goal, five assists) in six games, played on a line with Alex Newhook and Joel Armia against the Kraken. He had been playing on the top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield when he was injured.

"I think it won't be any different," Slafkovsky said. "I know my game and I want to bring it to the other line. We want to be successful and have good four lines."

Kirby Dach remained on the wing with Suzuki and Caufield for the time being.

"I was forced to break that line up because 'Slaf' was hurt," Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. "And then 'Dacher' went and that line's going good right now. Let's see if we can get 'Newie,' Armia, that line going without breaking something that's going right now. And I don't know how long it's going to stay like that, but I know what we have in 'Slaf,' and I know that he's going to end up with that line again." -- Sean Farrell

Carolina Hurricanes

Frederik Andersen is day to day with a lower-body injury and did not dress for the Hurricanes against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday.

Andersen, who made 18 saves in a 4-1 win at Seattle on Saturday, will be reevaluated upon the team’s return to Carolina after wrapping up a six-game road trip.

“Freddie came up a little gimpy after the game in Seattle, so not sure exactly the length, how long it's going to be,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “We're hoping not to too long, but he'll get checked out when we get back home.”

Andersen is 3-1-0 with a 1.48 goals-against average and .941 save percentage this season. He has been alternating starts with Pyotr Kochetkov, who made 24 saves in a 4-3 overtime victory against the Canucks and is 3-1-0 with a 2.78 GAA and .894 save percentage.

Carolina called up goalie Spencer Martin from Chicago of the American Hockey League on Monday to serve as the backup. -- Kevin Woodley