Sidney Crosby's Team Canada injury just blew a hole in the Penguins' playoff hopes
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Sam Walker
Feb 25, 2026 (10:11)
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Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Sidney Crosby is expected to miss at least four weeks, and the Pittsburgh Penguins suddenly feel the full weight of that Team Canada injury.
The lower-body issue happened at the Milan Olympics in Canada's quarterfinal against Czechia. Crosby labored off and never returned.
Canada pushed on, but Crosby ended up missing the semifinal and the gold medal game too. Now the real fallout hits at home.
Pittsburgh sits 29-15-12, right in the Metro fight. That's the good news.
The bad news is obvious, the Pens lose their engine at even strength and on the man advantage. Crosby had 27-32-59 in 56 games at the break.
Even the «four weeks minimum» phrasing matters. That takes you straight into the trade deadline window.
Kyle Dubas has five games left before March 6 to read the room. He has to do it without his captain.
The first domino is the middle of the ice. Rickard Rakell has already taken reps at center, because there's no clean replacement.
Sidney Crosby absence tests the Pittsburgh Penguins identity
Pens fans have seen this movie before, and the mood is a mix of anger and dread, because every «lower-body» update feels like code for «don't ask.»
The contingency plan is already visible. Avery Hayes got the call, and it screams «we need legs» more than «we found offense.»
Tactically, Pittsburgh can't just dump pucks and hope. Without Crosby's controlled entries, the top-six needs wingers to carry play, not just finish it.
Between the pipes and on the blue line, the margin shrinks. If the Pens chase games, their structure will crack.
The schedule does not offer a soft landing. New Jersey is up Thursday, then the Rangers and Golden Knights follow quickly.
If Crosby truly misses a month, the conversation changes from «add at the deadline» to «survive to stay in it.» That is the harsh part.
The only real comfort is this, Pittsburgh has banked points already. Now they have to bank belief until No. 87 is back.
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