Bryan Rust isn\u2019t the Pittsburgh Penguins\u2019 most valuable player.<\/p>\n
Chances are, his regular linemate, Sidney Crosby, will command that designation for as long as he wears the franchise\u2019s logo on his chest.<\/p>\n
But Rust sure is hard to replace if he is absent.<\/p>\n
And the Penguins haven\u2019t found any suitable substitutes for him for the past two games.<\/p>\n
Such was the case Sunday as the Penguins were shut out by the Boston Bruins, 1-0, at TD Garden in Boston.<\/p>\n
It was their second consecutive defeat, following a 2-1 home loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday. That setback snapped a season-best six-game winning streak.<\/p>\n
Each loss happened with Rust scratched because of an undisclosed injury.<\/p>\n
It isn\u2019t accurate to say the Penguins\u2019 losses this weekend were strictly because of Rust\u2019s ailment. On Sunday, they were in the penalty box six times (whereas the Bruins were sent to the solarium of discipline on only two occasions).<\/p>\n
But given that Rust does a lot of everything \u2014 operating as the right wing on the top line as well as the first power-play unit and on the penalty kill \u2014 his respite creates quite a void. Even after missing two games, he remains the team\u2019s second-leading scorer with 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 40 contests.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt needs to now be by committee anytime somebody comes out,\u201d coach Dan Muse said Saturday at PPG Paints Arena. \u201cThere\u2019s a guy who plays all situations for us. Just the work that he brings. Obviously, the offense, the defensive side, there\u2019s not a box he doesn\u2019t check in his game.<\/p>\n
\u201cInjuries happen. Guys come out. It\u2019s on everybody here to make up for it there by committee.\u201d<\/p>\n
Everybody in a Penguins jersey managed to fail in finding a goal Sunday as they were shut out for the fourth time this season. Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo made 27 saves to earn his first shutout of 2025-26 as well as the eighth of his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cDidn\u2019t do enough,\u201d Penguins forward Anthony Mantha said to reporters in Boston via audio provided by the team\u2019s media relations department. \u201cClearly, we didn\u2019t score a goal.\u201d<\/p>\n
His counterpart, Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner, was stout, stopping 17 of 18 shots as his record fell to 14-11-4.<\/p>\n
The Bruins appeared to open the scoring 4 minutes, 57 seconds into regulation, but officials determined forward Sean Kuraly directed a puck into the net with his hand.<\/p>\n
pic.twitter.com\/HgEZ4apPdl<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 EN Videos (@ENVideos19) January 12, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n A valid goal was scored at the 11-minute mark of the first period by Bruins forward Viktor Arvidsson, his ninth of the season.<\/p>\n From the center point of the offensive zone, Bruins defenseman Henri Jokiharju smacked a one-timer, which Skinner saved despite a screen. Above the crease, Arvidsson fended off Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson and kicked the rebound with his left skate to the left of the crease, then flicked a backhander off the near post and behind Skinner\u2019s right skate. Jokiharju and forward Casey Mittelstadt had assists.<\/p>\n Viktor Arvidsson picks up the loose change to make it 1-0 B’s ???? pic.twitter.com\/X74RdHk8JA<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NESN (@NESN) January 11, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s tough that that\u2019s the goal that wins the game,\u201d Skinner said. \u201cBut that happens.\u201d<\/p>\n Notes:<\/p>\n \u2022 The Penguins went more than a decade between being shut out by the Bruins. Goaltender Tuukka Rask made 34 saves in a 3-0 home win at TD Garden, Dec. 16, 2015<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2022 The Penguins have been shut out four times this season. Only the New York Rangers (eight) and New Jersey Devils (five) have been shut out more often this season.<\/p>\n \u2022 Penguins defenseman Connor Clifton returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the previous nine games. Clifton, who broke into the NHL with the Bruins in 2018, appeared in his 400th career game as he replaced defenseman Jack St. Ivany on the right side of the third pairing.<\/p>\n \u2022 Penguins forward Kevin Hayes, a native of Dorchester, Mass., appeared in his 800th career game.<\/p>\n \u2022 St. Ivany and forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard were healthy scratches.<\/p>\n \u2022 Prior to the game, linesman Matt MacPherson was honored by both teams for working in his 1,000th career game.<\/p>\n Congrats to Matt MacPherson on officiating his 1,000th NHL game ???? pic.twitter.com\/DJGxXw63W3<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NESN (@NESN) January 11, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t