The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that veteran centre Sidney Crosby is sidelined for at least a week with an upper-body injury. Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan informed the media on Thursday. Sullivan specified that the injury was not a concussion.
Sidney Crosby could be out up to one week for the Penguins with an upper-body injury. https://t.co/5vKRJynFTl
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) November 15, 2018
Sidney Crosby Injured
Crosby was injured in Pittsburgh’s 4-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night. He logged 21 minutes, 32 seconds of ice time and registered two assists. The Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia native finished the game.
Crosby has scored eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points to go along with two penalty minutes in 16 games. His possession numbers were 55.5 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of 8.8.
The 31-year-old has only played for the Pittsburgh Penguins in his 14-year NHL career. He has 419 goals and 716 assists for 1,135 career points in 880 career games. The Pittsburgh Penguins drafted him first overall of the 2005 NHL draft.
Crosby did not practice with the team the last two days, but skated on his own Thursday before the team’s optional skate. He played in all 82 regular season games last season for the first time in his career.
What This Means for the Future
Pittsburgh has struggled this season, but Crosby has been an offensive force lately. He’s second on the team in scoring behind Evgeni Malkin. The two-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner has been great on the power-play with two extra-man goals and six points.
Injuries are hurting the Penguins as Derick Brassard is out of the lineup with a lower-body injury. Sullivan is going to have to juggle his lineup while Crosby is out for the next week.
The Pens are 1-5-1 in their last seven games and sit in seventh in the Metropolitan Division. Pittsburgh has been able to make charges up the standings in recent seasons. However, that will be more difficult if their All-Star centre and captain is out for an extended period.
