Rust, Jarry Lead Penguins Past Struggling Wild, 4–1

Bryan Rust recorded a goal and an assist, and Tristan Jarry stopped 26 shots as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Minnesota Wild 4–1 on Thursday night, handing the Wild their fifth straight loss.

Rust broke a 1–1 tie midway through the third period, redirecting a long shot from Ryan Shea at 6:29. Just over a minute later, Ben Kindel added an insurance goal to extend Pittsburgh’s lead.

Shea also scored earlier in the game, while Anthony Mantha sealed the win with an empty-netter. The Penguins improved to 5-1-1 on the road, and Jarry continued his strong play, now 13-5-2 since returning from an AHL stint late last season. The 30-year-old goaltender was perfect on four Minnesota power plays; the Wild had entered the night leading the Western Conference with 14 power-play goals.

Kirill Kaprizov tallied the lone goal for Minnesota, which has now dropped eight of its last nine games, including the first four of a six-game homestand. Filip Gustavsson made 30 saves in the loss.

Shea’s first-period goal came off a loose puck near the left circle just 2:18 into the second period, tying the game. Later in the frame, Gustavsson denied former Wild forward Connor Dewar on a shorthanded breakaway, while Jarry made a pair of point-blank stops to keep the score even heading into the third.