The Pittsburgh Penguins dropped a 6-3 decision to the Dallas Stars on Saturday night, missing their star centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin due to injuries.
Both players remain day-to-day, with Crosby nursing a lower-body injury sustained early in Thursday’s 4-3 shootout win over the Ottawa Senators.The 38-year-old captain, who leads the team with 64 points including 28 goals in 61 games this season, played just 6:39 before exiting that contest.It marked his quick return after missing about a month from another lower-body issue while representing Team Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
Malkin, 39, sat out his third consecutive game with an upper-body injury that surfaced after a loss to Carolina on March 22. The veteran forward has tallied 52 points with 15 goals and 37 assists over 50 games in his 20th NHL season.
Coach Dan Muse described the absences as a challenge but stressed a team-wide response. “It’s not about one person replacing them,” Muse indicated, pointing to a collective effort from the roster.Defenseman Erik Karlsson echoed that sentiment after Thursday’s victory, saying the group faces a simple choice: “We can hang our heads and admit defeat or everybody can just say to themselves that, ‘I’m going to do my absolute best every time I get out there.'”
The Penguins have managed without their top talent before this year, posting a 5-4-3 record sans Crosby and going 2-2-2 when both he and Malkin are sidelined. Still, the loss to Dallas exposed vulnerabilities at a pivotal juncture. Pittsburgh holds third place in the Metropolitan Division with 88 points after 73 games.
With 9 games left, the Penguins face a grueling schedule, including a trip to the Islanders on Monday and a home date against Detroit on Tuesday. They aim to end a postseason drought dating back to 2022, and their 95.8% playoff projection underscores the stakes in a tight Eastern Conference race. A swift return for Crosby and Malkin could prove decisive as the stretch run intensifies.
Karlsson has his stick taken from him right in front of the ref and no call. Goal right after, EK is pissed! Don’t blame him #LetsGoPens
— Mike @ Top Shelf Hockey (@topshelfhkyvids) March 28, 2026
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