Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby departed Thursday night’s game against the Ottawa Senators early in the second period due to a lower-body injury.
This incident occurred shortly after Crosby had recently returned from a similar injury sustained during the Olympics while playing for Team Canada.
Crosby played a brief 38-second shift at the start of the second period before he exited to the locker room. The Penguins later confirmed he would not return to the game, and head coach Dan Muse indicated that there was no immediate update on Crosby’s condition.
Crosby’s Performance and Previous Injury
Before leaving the game, Crosby had already experienced a concerning moment when he headed to the tunnel after his final shift of the first period. This occurred after he appeared to become entangled in a collision, affecting his left leg. In total, he recorded one shot on goal during nine shifts in the Penguins’ 4-3 shootout victory over the Senators.
Impact of the Injury on Crosby’s Season
The 38-year-old center had previously missed 11 games due to a lower-body injury sustained during an Olympic quarterfinal on February 18. Crosby made his return to action on March 18 against Carolina, where he contributed with one goal and one assist. He has since recorded an assist in each of Pittsburgh’s last three games, leading the team with 28 goals and 64 points across 61 games this season.