Pittsburgh Penguins To Play Without Sidney Crosby In Critical Game Six

The Pittsburgh Penguins will have to play on Friday night without their captain, Sidney Crosby. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan announced that Crosby would be out earlier Friday morning.

Captain Crosby has been a big part of the Penguins’ success this postseason. The Pens hold a 3-2 series lead over the Rangers, and a lot of that success is thanks to the play of Crosby.

Crosby has two goals and seven points in five playoff games so far this postseason. It is a powerful performance for Crosby and the Penguins considering their last series win came in 2018.

Crosby left game five after taking a hit from defenseman Jacob Trouba of the New York Rangers. Here is the play in question from the game:

Considering the expected free agents the Penguins have to deal with this summer, it seems like this season is the Penguins’ last dance chance at a long playoff run.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are no stranger to injuries. At different times this season, they have been without Crosby or Malkin, yet they also find a way to elevate their game and play better. It almost seems fitting that this team has a chance to finish the series at home without their best star because this group keeps finding new ways to win.

Tonight’s game is a critical game for the Penguins as they just lost game five, a game that they could have used to close the series out and get a few extra days of rest ahead of the second round of the playoffs. Now they find themselves back at home with another opportunity to finish things off.

If the Penguins fail to end the series tonight, they will go back to New York on Sunday for a critical game seven, a game I do not think the Penguins will want to have to play in.

Crosby did skate this morning, so hopefully, he will be back on the ice soon for a game. But in the meantime, his teammates are going to want to make sure he doesn’t have to suit up for a game seven!