PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 28: Bryan Rust #17 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates with Jake Guentzel #59 after scoring an empty net goal in the third period during the game against the Nashville Predators at PPG Paints Arena on December 28, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Penguins' Rust, Guentzel both score in return to lineup vs. Sharks

Kayla Douglas
4 years ago
Icon Sportswire / Getty

Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Bryan Rust and Jake Guentzel made an instant impact when they returned to the lineup during Sunday's 8-5 victory against the San Jose Sharks.

Guentzel scored during the Penguins' productive six-goal opening frame, while Rust potted his fifth career hat trick after lighting the lamp twice in the first period and capping it off with an empty-netter. Rust also added two assists for a tidy five-point game.

Pittsburgh activated the pair off injured reserve earlier on in the day.

Rust sat out 11 games with a lower-body ailment before Sunday's contest, marking the second time this season that the 29-year-old has missed time due to injury.

Guentzel, meanwhile, sat out the Penguins' last five games with an upper-body injury. The 27-year-old winger was riding a 13-game point streak before being sidelined.

Both players slotted onto the top line.

Pittsburgh also announced it removed forward Teddy Blueger from COVID-19 protocol, but he did not play Sunday against the Sharks.

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