Crosby out at least 4 weeks for Penguins

CRANBERRY, Pa. — Sidney Crosby will be out at least four weeks for the Pittsburgh Penguins because of a lower-body injury. 

The 38-year-old center was injured during the second period of Team Canada’s 4-3 overtime win against Team Czechia in the quarterfinals at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 on Feb. 18.   

He missed a 3-2 win against Team Finland in the semifinals Friday, but said he wasn’t far from playing in a 2-1 overtime loss to the United States in the gold medal game Sunday. 

“A lot closer than I thought,” Crosby said Wednesday. “I didn’t think it was necessarily going to be an option. So, the fact that I even had a chance or was close to it, yeah, the staff there was unbelievable. … But unfortunately, it wasn’t something I could do.” 

Crosby, who had six points (two goals, four assists) in four games for Canada, was in uniform on the ice after the game to receive his silver medal. The Team Canada captain, who won gold in Vancouver in 2010 and Sochi in 2014, hasn’t considered if he’s played his final game at the Olympics. He will be 42 when the 2030 Olympics are played in the French Alps.

“I try not to think that far ahead,” Crosby said. “My mind was just on trying to play. You can’t let that creep into your head when you’re trying to overcome something, or you have something that’s challenging. I think the worst thing you can do is think about worst-case scenarios.”

Crosby chose not to disclose the injury. 

“I probably could,” Crosby said, “but probably won’t.” 

In his 21st NHL season, the Penguins captain leads them with 59 points (27 goals, 32 assists) in 56 games. He’s played in all but two games the past four seasons.

“He’s the type of guy that will play through a lot of things,” said defenseman Kris Letang, Crosby’s teammate with the Penguins since 2006. “It takes a lot to take him down and make him miss games. But in this case, I think we’re looking at him getting healthy and making sure he takes the time that he needs to come back strong.” 

Crosby didn’t skate Wednesday, but appeared on the ice as part of a post-practice clinic with kids from the “Little Penguins Learn to Play” program. 

“Feel good,” Crosby said. “Obviously I want to be back out there as soon as possible. So, just have to figure out what that looks like, how long it’s going to be and, you know, find a way to make sure that I’m at my best when I come back.” 

Pittsburgh (29-15-12) is second in the Metropolitan Division and will play the New Jersey Devils on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; SN-PIT, MSG, SNW, SNE), its first game following the Olympic break. 

The NHL season did not impact Crosby’s availability for Canada, he said.

“I’ll be honest with you, all I cared about was playing that game and focusing on that,” Crosby said. “That’s not any disrespect to our team or what I feel about this season or anything like that. We all put a lot of work in to try to be as successful as possible here, but, you know, given the opportunity to play in the Olympics and in that game, I think trying to play was all my focus was on. 

“Obviously, with talking to doctors and everybody, they were comfortable with me just being honest as far as what I felt, and what I could do and couldn’t do. Like I said, ultimately, it came down to not being able to do it.” 

The Penguins have not qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs the past three seasons and last won a postseason series in 2018.

Crosby made 16 straight appearances in the playoffs with the Penguins from 2007-22 after missing as a rookie in 2005-06. A three-time Stanley Cup champion (2009, 2016, 2017), he was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2016 and 2017.

“That’s why we play,” Crosby said. “Obviously, the Olympics was a great opportunity and experience, but I think you shift your focus to playing in the playoffs. It’s so special and so fun to be in those big games, and to play for that. So, that’s where my mind’s at.” 

Crosby is eighth all-time in points (1,746) and assists (1,094), and 15th in goals (652). His 201 points (71 goals, 130 assists) in the playoffs are the sixth-most in NHL history. 

Named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players at the League’s Centennial celebration in 2017, Crosby has won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP twice (2006-07, 2013-14), the Ted Lindsay Award as MVP as voted by the NHL Players’ Association three times (2006-07, 2012-13, 2013-14), the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL scoring leader twice (2006-07, 2013-14) and the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy for leading the League in goals twice (2009-10, 2016-17).

“Anytime anybody goes out of the lineup, I think everybody has to ramp up their game a little bit,” said Bryan Rust, normally right wing on Pittsburgh’s first line with Crosby at center. “Guys are going to have opportunities to play in positions that they otherwise might not have been able to play in. Obviously Sid’s a guy who might be a little bit harder to replace than others, but I think it just means the rest of us have to step up that much more.”

The Penguins are 8-1-3 since Jan. 13, despite Crosby being limited to two assists in his past six games.

“I’m confident,” Crosby said. “I think we’ve shown all year, we’ve had injuries and guys have stepped up to get to where we are at this point. I think it’s because of our team play. I don’t think it’s been any one person. It’s because collectively, as a group, we’ve found different ways to win and different guys have stepped up.

“As long as we continue that and understand that, then I think we give ourselves a good chance. But it’s going to be an important stretch here the next little bit. A lot of teams are trying to get points and are in similar positions. Just really confident, as far as that’s concerned.”