Bryan Rust, a 2014 graduate of Notre Dame, has provided the spark for the Pittsburgh Penguins this year. Rust, despite having a relatively modest regular season with just 4 goals in 41 games, has exploded during the post-season by scoring big goals and delivering consistent play throughout.

The former third round pick, who is currently making $665,000, may be due a pay raise soon given his efforts. Goaltending aside, no asset is more important than secondary scoring if you want to make a deep run at the Stanley Cup. For the Penguins, Rust has produced that in droves this spring by chipping in 6 goals and 3 assists. More importantly have been the timing of his goals. For instance, in game 7 vs. Tampa Bay, Rust scored both goals for Pittsburgh to push them into the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 2009.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWi9g-YTKUA

Last night his hot streak continued as Rust kicked off the scoring for the Penguins and helped them to a 3-2 win and a 1-0 series lead over the San Jose Sharks. Along with his scoring prowess, Rust is now a +11, indicating a willingness and ability to play at both ends of the ice. His contributions to the Penguins have been invaluable.

During the 3^rd period of game 1, Rust sustained a hard hit and late hit to the head at the hands of Sharks forward Patrick Marleau. The hit which appeared to be an elbow to the head, sent Rust to the dressing room. Although he returned to the Penguins bench following the hit, Rust skated just one shift after the hit and is listed as day to day with an upper body injury. One can only hope that Rust did not sustain a concussion as a result of hit. Though I don’t think his current hot streak has him pegged for playoff MVP status, he is a player that Penguins have come to rely on and one Notre Dame fans can be proud of.

The post Former Irish Icer Ignites Scoring for Penguins in NHL Final appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

Jackson has compiled a .604 winning percentage and also piloted the Irish to their only two Frozen Four Appearances in program history. Additionally, the Irish have had a recent run of NHL draft picks and guys who have managed to stay in the league during the Jackson Era. Three of these players – Erik Condra, Ian Cole, and Bryan Rust – will seek to become just the fifth Notre Dame player to have their name inscribed on Lord Stanley’s Cup and the first Since Mark Eaton in 2009.

Bryan Rust (Credit: USCHO – Rachel Lewis)

As the playoffs enter the Conference Finals stage, it is a guarantee that one or two of the aforementioned will make an appearance in the Finals. Rust and Cole are both playing for Pittsburgh, while Condra plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Penguins’ Conference Finals opponent. They will seek to join Bill Nyrop, Don Jackson, Brett Lebda, and Eaton as previous Stanley Cup winners. Nyrop, with the Montreal Canadiens, and Jackson, with the Edmonton Oilers, are the only Notre Dame players to play on a Cup-winning team multiple times.

Bryan Rust was a four year letter winner at Notre Dame and led the team in scoring as a senior. He was a third round pick of the Penguins in 2010 after graduating from Notre Dame with a degree in finance. After spending most of the 2014-2015 season in the minors, Rust seemed to find a place with the Penguins this season playing in 41 games. He currently plays on the Penguins third line with Chris Kunitz and Evgeni Malkin. During the playoffs, Rust has appeared in 10 games contributing 2 goals and 1 assist and more importantly being defensively responsible as demonstrated by his +4 rating.

Boston University’s Dave Warsofsky and Notre Dame’s Ian Cole collide (photo: Melissa Wade)

Erik Condra, a former All-American and captain at Notre Dame, has logged over 350 career NHL games playing for both Ottawa and Tampa Bay. He was originally a 7^th round pick of the Ottawa Senators following a sensational career at Notre Dame, where he earned degrees in psychology and pre-professional studies (aka pre-med). Condra appeared in 54 regular season games this season, contributing 6 goals and 5 assists. However, he has seen his role reduced during the post-season and has currently appeared in just 3 games for the Lightning.

After being the highest drafted player in Notre Dame history (18^th overall in 2007), Ian Cole has seemed to find his niche in Pittsburgh this season. Cole was arguably the best defensemen ever to play at Notre Dame. He appeared in 70 games this season, the most in his six years in the league. Cole contributed 12 assists for the Penguins in the regular season and has played very well in the playoffs. During the post-season, he has played in every game and been very solid registering a +5 rating.

As a fan of the NHL with no rooting interest in the final four teams, I’m excited of the prospect of 1 or 2 Notre Dame players in the Stanley Cup Finals. For the record, I like the Rust and Cole’s Penguins to advance 4-2.

The post Chasing Cup Dreams: Irish In the NHL Playoffs appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

Just a small town girl, livin’ in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin’ anywhere
Just a city boy, born and raised in south Detroit
He took the midnight train goin’ anywhere…

I love football, I’m not gonna lie. But hockey is a close second in my world. And with all of the Olympic hockey AND Notre Dame hockey this weekend, I could not be happier!

What … you’re not a hockey fanatic? You don’t follow Notre Dame hockey? Let me catch you up with the highlights of this 2013-2014 Notre Dame hockey team!

Here are some basics to get you up to speed!

The 2013-2014 squad has four team captains, seniors Jeff Costello, TJ Tynan, Stephen Johns, and Bryan Rust.

Notre Dame men’s hockey is now a member of the Hockey East conference, which means the Michigan rivalry is on hold until further notice. Joining Hockey East gave ND a new competitive landscape as well as exciting challenges for the season ahead. How has the challenge worked out so far, you ask?

In 31 games played so far the Fighting Irish are 17-12-2 overall. In Hockey East conference play they are 6-9-2. At home they are 13-5-1, with a clear home ice advantage, and on the road they are 4-7-1.

Twice they have had games where they’ve scored seven goals. First in a 7-3 win over Michigan Tech on October 20th, and second in a 7-1 win over Alabama-Huntsville on January 10th. Both of these wins were on home ice.

Notre Dame has shutout their opponents five times this season, four of which were on home ice.

There are three remaining regular season hockey games. Two are against Boston University (both are at home and the one this Friday, February 21st, will be televised on NBC Sports Network).  The final regular season game is versus Boston College at Kelley Rink in Chestnut Hill, Ma.

One other major highlight of the season: Notre Dame got to play Boston College outside at Fenway Park. Yes, you heard me right, Fenway. Though the Irish fell to Boston College 4-3, the experience was something players and fans will not soon forget. Here is the trailer for the NBC Sports special which covered the game, “Shipping Up to Boston.”

Digging further into the statistics of this team, they have done quite well this season.

Looking at shot statistics, they have outperformed their opponents in all categories. (See table below.)

Special teams had been a strong point for the Irish. While they continue to take fewer penalties than their opponents, their power play has withered. Until the end of January the Irish had been very successful on the power play (See tables below).  Since then they have gone 2 for 27.

Who are the top five players this year you ask? Pretty much the usual suspects.

Senior TJ Tynan has played 31 games this season with 8 goals and 23 assists (31 points), followed by sophomore Mario Lucia who has also played 31 games with 15 goals and 12 assists. Freshman Vince Hinostroza has played 25 games with 6 goals and 21 assists,  senior Bryan Rust has played 31 games with 12 goals and 13 assists and rounding out the top five is sophomore Sam Herr who has played 31 games with 13 goals and 8 assists.

A big part of Notre Dame’s success this year on the ice is thanks to the tremendous job that senior Steven Summerhayes does in goal. This season Summerhayes has spent 1,676 minutes in goal, has had 57 goals scored against him and made 700 saves. In the game this past Saturday night against Providence Summerhayes made 36 saves and picked up his 6th shutout game of the season. On Friday night, Summerhayes had a career-high 47 saves in the 2-2 tie against Providence and finished the weekend with 83 saves in the Notre Dame win and tie.

The win on Saturday night ended a six-game (0-5-1) Irish winless streak on the road in Hockey East play. The last Irish win in the conference away from home came on Nov. 2, at Vermont.

Video highlights here: http://watchnd.tv/#!/videos/92eHFvazqKmd0SfV_xxJXC8Ss-PvBnLS

Notre Dame is now 17-12-2 overall and 6-9-2 in Hockey East, good for 14 points and a tie for seventh with Vermont with the Catamounts holding a game in hand. (Which for playoff purposes puts Notre Dame in the 8th place spot.)

If the playoffs started today, the Fighting Irish team would host 9th ranked Massachusetts. (Opening round games are single elimination and teams #1-#5 receive first round byes.)

Want to catch year’s Irish squad in action? Check them out this Friday night at 6:05pm ET on NBC Sports Network.

Cheers & Go Irish!

The post Don’t Stop Believin’ appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.