Mike Sullivan hints at 2 big returns for the Penguins on Monday.

Like many teams in the National Hockey League the Pittsburgh Penguins have had to limp through the season with a patchwork roster of players due in part to injuries but thanks primarily to the ongoing pandemic and the spread of Covid around the league. The Penguins have often had to play without some of their core members on the ice but thankfully it sounds like they are finally starting to get healthy and are starting to actually get some positive news on a semi-regular basis on that front.

On Sunday Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan had some more good news to share when he hinted at the possibility that the Penguins could see two returns to the lineup on Monday, although he did temper expectations. Sullivan revealed that both forward Jason Zucker and forward Bryan Rust could make an appearance when he said that both men were expected to be game time decisions for their game against the Las Vegas Golden Knights.

Getting Zucker back will be big as he has been out for a little while with 7 games missed for him already. Prior to his absence Zucker had appeared in 30 regular season games for the Penguins and was having himself an alright season with 4 goals and 7 assists for 11 points and a plus minus rating of 1.

The return of Rust however will be the biggest news of the day considering that fans have been dying to see him back in action ever since it was announced he would miss time. Rust's season was delayed but once he hit the ice for the Penguins he seemed like a man possessed, recording 9 goals and 11 assists for 20 points in just 15 games this season, and a plus minus rating of +7. 

In fact I don't think it would be a stretch to say that Rust was one of the Penguins best players on a night in and night out basis during that 15 game stretch, the only question now is whether or not he will be able to recapture that form when he comes back from his absence.

Rust will have missed a total of 4 games if he does indeed make his return on Monday.