Penguins forward Bryan Rust 'day to day' with injury

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust remained off the ice for the third consecutive day of training camp on Friday as he recovers from an undisclosed injury.

The team initially described his absences as “maintenance days” on Wednesday and Thursday. Coach Mike Sullivan went further on Friday and labeled the top-line right winger as “day to day” but suggested the ailment is nothing serious.

“He’s just trying to manage through it,” Sullivan said.

Typically affixed to the port side of franchise center Sidney Crosby, Rust has played in two games this preseason and has two assists.

Notes:

• Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson participated in the team’s morning skate in Cranberry but remains “day to day” with an undisclosed injury.

His participation in Friday’s session was his most elaborate involvement in any on-ice team activities since training camp began Sept. 18. In addition to rotating with Ryan Graves and Harrison Brunicke on the third pairing, he worked with the top power-play group along with forwards Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell and defenseman Kris Letang.

Entering camp injured, Karlsson had not participated in any practices or morning skates until Thursday.

Sullivan indicated the seven-time All-Star continues to carry a non-contact status in practices as well as morning skates and remains “day to day.”

“We’re trying to get him reps in certain situations,” Sullivan said. “When you miss a guy of that stature throughout virtually the whole training camp, it makes it hard because we’re trying to integrate these guys into different aspects of the game. He’s obviously, a big part of it. The fact that we can get him back involved in the power play and getting him some reps with line rushes, things of that nature, is really important.”

• Goaltending prospect Joel Blomqvist is scheduled to start and complete Friday’s preseason finale against the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena.

In three games this preseason, Blomqvist has a 1-1-0 record, a 4.21 goals against average and an .875 save percentage.

Filip Larsson is slated to dress as the backup goaltender.

• The Penguins’ lines and defensive pairings during Friday’s morning skate were

10 Drew O’Connor – 87 Sidney Crosby – 72 Anthony Beauvillier

8 Michael Bunting – 71 Evgeni Malkin – 67 Rickard Rakell

2 Rutger McGroarty – 20 Lars Eller – 18 Jesse Puljujarvi

13 Kevin Hayes – 19 Cody Glass – 55 Noel Acciari

24 Matt Grzelcyk – 58 Kris Letang

28 Marcus Pettersson – 3 Jack St. Ivany

27 Ryan Graves – 65 Erik Karlsson – 45 Harrison Brunicke

• The second power-play unit included Bunting, Eller, Grzelcyuk, Hayes and Puljujarvi.

• The Blue Jackets are scheduled to send the following players to Pittsburgh for Friday’s contest:

Forwards – Luca Del Bel Belluz, Trey Fix-Wolansky, Dylan Gambrell, Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, Sean Kuraly, James Malatesta, Hunter McKown, Mathieu Olivier, Mikael Pyyhtia, Cole Sillinger, Owen Sillinger

Defensemen – Jake Christiansen, Cole Clayton, Jordan Harris, David Jiricek, Denton Mateychuk, Stanislav Svozil

Goaltenders – Jet Greaves, Daniel Tarasov