Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby left Thursday night’s game against the Ottawa Senators in the second period due to a lower-body injury, raising fresh concerns for the team just over a week after his return from a similar issue at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The Penguins secured a victory despite Crosby’s early departure. Crosby, 38, had only recently rejoined the lineup following a lower-body injury sustained during Team Canada’s quarterfinal matchup against Czechia at the Milano-Cortina Olympics in Italy on February 18. In that Olympic game, his right leg buckled after a hit from Czechia defenseman Radko Gudas in the second period, sidelining him for several weeks and landing him on injured reserve.
Crosby made his club comeback last week against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, marking his first appearance since the Olympic setback. That game ended in a 6-5 overtime loss for Pittsburgh, a thrilling contest where the Penguins rallied multiple times but fell short. Following the defeat, Crosby acknowledged feeling some rust after nearly a month away. He noted the need to quickly regain his timing, especially with every remaining game carrying high stakes in the playoff race.
This latest tweak adds uncertainty to Pittsburgh’s late-season push. Crosby, a key leader and offensive driver, had been pivotal in fueling their playoff hopes upon returning from what some reports specified as an MCL sprain. The team sits second in the Metropolitan Division with 88 points and 10 games left, holding their postseason destiny in their own hands.
No immediate timeline emerged for Crosby’s evaluation, but the Penguins will monitor his status closely ahead of their next tests. His health remains critical as they aim to secure a Stanley Cup playoff spot in a tight race.
This was Sidney Crosby’s last shift before he left the game. Looked pretty normal. It didn’t seem like anything was wrong. pic.twitter.com/vuuWdx4pkY
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) March 27, 2026
