Sidney Crosby sustained a lower-body injury Thursday night and did not return as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Ottawa Senators 4-3 in a shootout at Canadian Tire Centre.
Crosby appeared to get his left leg tangled up late in the first period and went down the tunnel after just one shift to start the second, with the game tied 1-1. He logged 6:39 of ice time and had one shot on goal.
Coach Dan Muse said he was still waiting on more information from the medical staff.
“It’s lower body, but I don’t have any other updates for you now,” Muse said.
The 38-year-old had only recently returned to the lineup on March 18 after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury sustained during the 2026 Winter Olympics. He had been on a four-game point streak since coming back, recording one goal and four assists. On the season, Crosby leads Pittsburgh with 64 points on 28 goals and 36 assists in 61 games.
Despite losing their captain, the Penguins rallied. Defenseman Erik Karlsson had a goal and two assists, and forward Rickard Rakell contributed two goals and an assist.
“When Sid leaves the game, we have two options,” Karlsson said. “We can hang our heads and admit defeat, or everybody can say, ‘I’m going to do my absolute best every time I get out there.’ And I think we did that today.”
Rakell said the group refused to let the absence derail them.
“Everybody definitely stepped up their game,” Rakell said.
The win moved Pittsburgh to 36-20-16 and into second place in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins host the Dallas Stars on Saturday at PPG Paints Arena.
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