Sidney Crosby placed on injured reserve, expected to miss at least four weeks per Penguins PR
Photo credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
Sidney Crosby hits injured reserve with a lower-body injury, and the Pittsburgh Penguins just lost their heartbeat for at least four weeks.
The team made it official on Monday, moving Crosby to IR while confirming the minimum timeline.
That stings because Crosby was driving results again, sitting at 27-32-59 in 59 games.
Pittsburgh is still in the mix at 29-15-12, but that margin feels thin without No. 87 tilting the ice.
The context matters, too, because Crosby's injury traces back to his Olympic run where he left a game in clear discomfort.
There is at least one bit of relief baked into the announcement. Kris Letang is activated from injured reserve, and Pittsburgh badly needed a stabilizer on the blue line.
Sidney Crosby absence forces Pittsburgh Penguins to survive differently
Penguins fans know this feeling, that tight-chested «here we go again,» because the team finally had traction and now the schedule turns cruel.
The simplest fix is not a simple one, replacing elite touch, faceoff timing, and the way Crosby makes linemates look a step faster.
Letang's return helps the breakout and the man advantage, because he can hit seams early instead of forcing low-percentage chips.
It also changes minutes, letting Pittsburgh spread the workload and keep a second pair from drowning every night.
For the next games, the Penguins just need a clean identity, win shifts, protect the slot, and steal points until their captain is back between the dots.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 25|159 ANSWERS Sidney Crosby placed on injured reserve, expected to miss at least four weeks per Penguins PR Will Sidney Crosby's injury keep the Pittsburgh Penguins from holding a playoff spot? | ||
| Yes | 104 | 65.4 % |
| No | 55 | 34.6 % |
| List of polls | ||