Penguins’ Sidney Crosby leaves game against Senators

As if Pittsburgh sports fans didn’t have enough grief today.

On Thursday night, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby unexpectedly exited a game against the Ottawa Senators.

It isn’t exactly clear what happened to No. 87 in the game. He started the second period with nothing seeming to be bothering Crosby. However, at the end of his shift, he unexpectedly made his way down the tunnel and back to the Penguins’ dressing room.

The team quickly reported that Crosby wouldn’t be returning to the game, but with no explanation as to why. The longtime captain logged just 6:39 of ice time across nine shifts, posting a plus/minus of +1.

It has been a strange month for the Cole Harbour, N.S. native. Just over a month ago, while representing Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Crosby suffered an MCL sprain during the quarterfinals after taking an awkward hit from Czechia defenseman Radko Gudas. He ended up missing Canada’s final two games in Milan, including the team losing to the United States in the gold medal game.

Even though he came close to playing in the final, Crosby missed the Penguins’ first 11 games coming out of the Olympic break while recovering, with the team placing the 38-year-old on injured reserve. This, after he had appeared in all 56 of Pittsburgh’s games heading into the league-wide pause. In his first four games back, Crosby has been productive, scoring a goal and adding five points.

In 61 appearances this year, Crosby has scored 28 goals and 36 assists for 64 points, leading the Pens in goals and points. He has a -3 rating while averaging 19:37 of ice time.

The Penguins (35-20-16) came into Thursday third in the Metropolitan Division, 10 points back of the Carolina Hurricanes for first.