On this date in Penguins history: Bryan Rust sends Pens to Stanley Cup Final
Lightning didn’t strike twice, but Bryan Rust did.
Eight years ago today, Bryan Rust stepped up big time and scored two goals against the Tampa Bay Lightning in a Game 7 at PPG Paints Arena, sending the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Final.
Just a week earlier, the Penguins were sitting pretty with a 2-1 series lead, but Game 4 and Game 5 didn’t go well for Pittsburgh and suddenly their backs were against the wall, trailing 3-2.
A road win in Tampa in Game 6 sent the series back to Pittsburgh for the pivotal seventh game.
A scoreless first period had things feeling tight and just shy of two minutes into the second period, Bryan Rust scored his first of the game.
Near the midway point of the period, Jonathan Drouin evened things up for Tampa Bay, but Bryan Rust wasn’t going away quietly.
Another goal 30 seconds later put the Penguins back on top.
A scoreless third period sent the Penguins back to the Stanley Cup Final seven years after their most recent appearance.