Bryan Rust scored twice in a three-point performance and the host Pittsburgh Penguins rode a four-goal first period to a 5-4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.

Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson, Aatu Raty, and Pius Suter scored for the Canucks (11-7-3), who had won two in a row and eight straight on the road including 2-0 at the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. Arturs Silovs made 18 saves.

As for the Canucks as a whole, they need to be better during the first period. Yes, their goaltending put them in a hole, but they struggled to defend the crease and allowed the Penguins too much time and space to make plays. Overall, they looked like a tired team that only found their game in the third period.

Arturs Silovs gives up five goals on the first 13 shots to put the Vancouver Canucks in a hole from which they couldn't quite escape.

Bryan Rust had two goals and an assist to help the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-4 on Wednesday night.