Bryan Rust's Two Game 7 Goals Send Penguins To Stanley Cup Final

Bryan Rust had five professional goals entering the Stanley Cup playoffs. After Game 7 on Thursday, he had five more in these playoffs alone, and a ticket to the Stanley Cup Final to boot.

The 24-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins forward played just 41 games during the regular season, but he was again the catalyst for Pittsburgh as his two goals were the difference in a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the clinching game of the Eastern Conference finals.

Rust puts the Penguins up 1-0 in Game 7 #Pens https://t.co/nUf2v2lVXT

— Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) May 27, 2016

Rust's 2nd goal of the game, Pens lead 2-1 https://t.co/JHUTdqBHRq

— Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) May 27, 2016

Rust’s performance overshadowed a few terrific plays from the Lightning, like this goal from Jonathan Drouin.

Jonathan Drouin goal #Lightning https://t.co/u4m19vJZDg

— Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) May 27, 2016

And this save from Victor Hedman.

Victor Hedman saves a goal pic.twitter.com/zwPKvBnNc3

— Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) May 27, 2016

The win advances Pittsburgh to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2009, when they defeated the Detroit Red Wings in seven games. They’ll face the San Jose Sharks in this season’s edition of the Final, which begins on Monday.