Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby is scheduled to return to the lineup on Wednesday, March 18 for the first time since he was injured at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Crosby has missed 11 NHL games since he suffered a lower-body injury on a Radko Gudas check during Canada’s quarterfinal win against Czechia. He also missed the semifinal and the gold medal game loss to the United States.
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The Penguins have gone 5-3-3 in Crosby’s absence to remain in a playoff position, and during five of those games, they were without suspended Evgeni Malkin.
“When you see on a nightly basis the way we compete, the way we work, just coming back in games … I just want to jump in there and contribute the best I can,” Crosby told reporters.
Malkin had two goals and an assist when he returned from his suspension in the Penguins’ last game.
“He set the bar high,” Crosby said.
Sidney Crosby injury update
Penguins coach Dan Muse told reporters that Sidney Crosby will return from his 11-game absence on Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. He was practicing on a line with Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.
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Sidney Crosby stats
Despite missing the 11 games, Crosby remains the Penguins’ top scorer this season. He has 59 points in 56 games. This season, he passed Mario Lemieux to become the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sidney Crosby injury update: Penguins star returning to lineup
