Sidney Crosby will return to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“It’s great to be back playing,” Crosby told reporters after the morning skate. “Just looking at these guys, [road] Travel is obviously getting closer [to returning]. It’s very close. So, it’s nice to finally get back out there. “
This is the second straight game for the Penguins with key players returning to the lineup. Center Evgeni Malkin, who was suspended five games for slashing Buffalo Sabers defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, scored two goals and added an assist in Monday’s 7-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche.
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Crosby’s injury occurred during Canada’s Olympic men’s quarterfinal victory over the Czech Republic last month. He did not play in the semifinal win over Finland or the gold medal loss to the United States.
After returning to Pittsburgh, the Penguins announced on February 25 that Crosby would miss at least four weeks.
Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner, a teammate of Crosby’s on Team Canada, told reporters last week that Crosby suffered a grade II MCL sprain.
Crosby last played for the Penguins on Feb. 5 before the Olympic break. In his absence, the team went 5-3-3 and tied for second in the Metropolitan Division with 83 points, seven points behind the division-leading Hurricanes.
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There are 15 games left in the regular season, and despite missing 11 games, Crosby still leads the team in goals (27) and points (59).
