Sharks forward Marleau will not be disciplined for hit on Rust in Game 1

NEW YORK – San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau will not face additional discipline for his hit on Pittsburgh’s Bryan Rust in the opening game of the Stanley Cup final.

Marleau bodychecked Rust early in the third period of the Penguins’ 3-2 home victory on Monday night. He caught Rust with his head down as the Penguins forward was crossing the zone inside the blue line.

In a series of posts on its Twitter account on Tuesday, the NHL’s Department of Player of Safety said it determined that no supplemental discipline was warranted.

It felt that the main points of contact were the shoulders and chest, and that Rust was low, off-balance and reaching for the puck. Marleau does not pick the head, elevate or extend, and the head contact is with Marleau’s back, the department also said.

Rust initially left the game after the hit, returned for a shift, and then left the game for good with an upper-body injury. The 24-year-old rookie had scored his sixth goal of the playoffs earlier in the game.

Marleau, who was given a minor penalty on the play, scored one of the San Jose goals.

Game 2 is Wednesday night in Pittsburgh.