Penguins place Bryan Rust, Brock McGinn in COVID protocol

The Penguins are looking for their 11th straight victory Saturday against Dallas, but they will be without a pair of forwards for this one as Pittsburgh announced that wingers Bryan Rust and Brock McGinn have been placed in COVID protocol.  Head coach Mike Sullivan clarified that McGinn tested positive Friday, while Rust tested positive Saturday morning.

Rust has been on quite the hot streak lately, collecting seven goals and four assists in just three games since returning from a lower-body injury, so the timing for this news is certainly far from ideal.  McGinn, meanwhile, has been a decent secondary scorer in his first season with Pittsburgh, picking up nine goals in 33 games so far.

The two join forward Drew O’Connor as those currently unavailable to COVID protocol.  As a result of the confirmed positive tests, they will miss at least five days past the date they tested positive, which will keep McGinn out for at least the next two games and Rust for the next three.  Pittsburgh does get one player back from COVID protocol Saturday, however, as center Jeff Carter returns after missing the last three contests.