Bryan Rust Daily Fantasy News, Rankings, Projections

The Rangers surprised many people with their 2-1 victory in Toronto on Saturday night, but this is still a poor defense which should struggle with Pittsburgh's top line. Though Rust does not see power play time, he should do damage at even-strength against a New York team which spends a majority of their time on the ice in their own end. Rust is moderately priced across the industry and makes Pittsburgh's top line with the expensive Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel more affordable. Look for the Penguins to do damage tonight at Madison Square Garden.

Sidney Crosby has had quite the revolving door of wingers throughout his career, but Jake Guentzel has been a mainstay for the last couple seasons — for the most part. Joining the two on the Pittsburgh Penguins top line is Bryan Rust as the Pens host the Edmonton Oilers. This game should be high scoring, so it makes sense to stack both sides of this game if possible. With Evgeni Malkin on the shelf, Guentzel had been playing on the top power play unit so a two-man mini-stack with Crosby and Guentzel makes the most sense with Malkin now suspended tonight.

Everybody is talking about the Philadelphia Flyers because they are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games. That's great and all, but they have had a league-worst 43.08 CF% in that stretch. With the talk about the Flyers lately, the Penguins may have slightly lower ownership than they should especially with the play of Carter Hart. However, Sidney Crosby and linemates Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust are going to be targets here tonight. With the Flyers also allowing 67.96 CA/60 over those 10 games which is the second-worst in the NHL in that time. They're winning despite their horrific possession numbers and the Penguins should take advantage of that tonight.

The Pittsburgh Penguins second line sees Evgeni Malkin centering Phil Kessel and Bryan Rust. Kessel has had a solid season with 20 goals and 53 points in 48 games with a lot of damage coming on the power play as indicated by his 23 power play points. Malkin and Kessel both play on the top power play unit, obviously, which makes for an interesting two-man mini-stack. However, the New Jersey Devils penalty kill has been elite this year, ranked second in the NHL with a 84.2 percent success rate. However, with Keith Kinkaid in net and the firepower of the Penguins power play, that is of little concern.

Since the Christmas break, Sidney Crosby has 4 goals and 14 points in 10 games centering the top line with Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust on his wings. The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to be a high-scoring team scoring 3.52 goals per game — good for the fifth best numbers in the NHL. Additionally, their power play has been clicking too. They have the 5th best PP which has converted at a 25.4 percent rate, however they are taking on the league's best penalty kill. The Arizona Coyotes surprisingly have the best PK in the league killing off 88.2 percent of their penalties. It's a battle of elite special teams, and with Patric Hornqvist on the shelf, Guentzel plays on the top power play unit so a mini-stack with him and Crosby makes sense.

Sidney Crosby looks like his rejuvenated younger self lately with 16 points over his last 10 games including 25 shots on goal. His linemates have been benefiting greatly from this as Jake Guentzel (10 points) and Bryan Rust (9 points) have had solid 10-game stretches as well. Unfortunately, neither of these two play on the top power play unit with Crosby but against the Florida Panthers and the struggling Roberto Luongo — 3.24 goals against average and .896 save percentage — this line could dominate the even strength game.

Although they have mostly been assists, Sidney Crosby has 18 points (4 goals, 14 assists) in his last 10 games along with 26 shots on goal. He's been playing with recently extended Jake Guentzel as well as Bryan Rust. The trio have been playing on the top line at even strength, although neither winger join Crosby on the top power play unit. That hurts their upside a bit, but they have been so good at even strength that they are still worth a stack against the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets have struggled recently, allowing 61.28 CA/60 over the last 3 weeks as well as a below average 49.0 percent CF%.

Sidney Crosby can probably safely be taken off the #1 player in the world pedestal, but that doesn't mean he's still not one of the best players in the world. He continues to carry his wingers and get them paid, and paid well. Ask Chris Kunitz, Pascal Dupuis and most recently Jake Guentzel (though he's still a great player). Anyway, Crosby is playing with Guentzel and Bryan Rust on the Pittsburgh Penguins top line as they visit the New York Rangers. Rust is a game-time decision, so keep an eye on that. Crosby has put up 16 points in his last 10 games, with Rust piling up 8 goals during that same time frame. Over the Rangers last 10 games, they have a brutal 62.09 CA/60 and an NHL-worst 42.38 CF%. While the Penguins haven't been much better, the talent on their team should overcome their recent poor possession numbers. Henrik Lundqvist is the only thing standing in the way of the Pens dominating the Rangers tonight.

The Penguins had been waiting for Bryan Rust to produce this season especially after his 38 points in 69 games last season, but it was a super slow start for Rust. However, Bryan has been dynamite over the past week, posting five goals and an assist including 20 shots on goal in just four games. Bryan has been elevated to the top line with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel, a formidable one-two duo which continues to dictate play at even-strength. Rust's ice time is on the rise and his price is still cheap across the industry which puts him in play in all formats.

Evgeni Malkin and line-mates Patric Hornqvist, and Bryan Rust, draw a great matchup tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers on home ice. Pittsburgh comes into the night with the highest implied goal total on the slate at 3.69. Philadelphia is also allowing the third most GA/60 at 3.56. They might be chalky tonight, but this is a line I will not be fading. Adding defenseman Kris Letang to the stack gives you three pieces of the team’s elite top power-play unit.

-Please not that Hornqvist is a game time decision, but is expected to play. Information should be out before any games lock at 7:00 pm est to allow lineup edits.