Sidney Crosby set to return for Penguins vs. Hurricanes after missing 11 games

King Jemison, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Mar 18, 2026

Published in Hockey

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RALEIGH, N.C. — On his way to the locker room after the Penguins’ morning skate Wednesday at Lenovo Center, Evgeni Malkin shared a scoop with the reporters waiting outside.

“He’s back,” Malkin said with a big smile. “Crosby’s back!”

Penguins coach Dan Muse confirmed his alternate captain’s report: Sidney Crosby is indeed returning Wednesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Crosby has missed the last 11 games with the lower-body injury he suffered at the Olympics. Canadian teammate Mitch Marner told the SportsNet Pittsburgh broadcast Thursday in Las Vegas that Crosby’s injury was a Grade 2 MCL sprain.

The Penguins went 5-3-3 in their captain’s absence — including 2-1-2 while playing without Malkin, as well. And now Crosby is set to return four weeks after he gingerly skated off the ice in Canada’s Olympic quarterfinal victory against Czechia.

Crosby was on the ice for every one of the Penguins’ morning skates on their five-game road trip. He was skating before the trip in Pittsburgh, as well. But Wednesday’s skate was the first time he’d participated in line rushes with players in the lineup for that evening’s game. Crosby was back with his usual linemates, Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust.

“It’s just been a matter of how I feel,” Crosby said. “And trying to make sure that … everything’s good in every way, whether it’s the injury itself or being ready to play, all that stuff.”

He gained a new appreciation for his team during his time in the press box.

“You just see on a nightly basis the way we compete, the way we work, just coming back in games, a lot of different things,” Crosby said. “So just want to jump in there and contribute as best I can.”

The Penguins are second in the Metropolitan Division with 15 games to go, but they’re tied with the New York Islanders in points. And the Columbus Blue Jackets, the first team out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference standings, are just two points back.

“You play to play in the playoffs and ultimately win,” Crosby said. “So it’s competitive. You can see on a nightly basis, everyone’s pushing for a few spots. But that’s fun. As a hockey player, those are the games you want to be in.”

Crosby will join in the fun against the Hurricanes, who are in first place in the Metro, at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

He’ll have trouble topping Malkin’s return Monday from a five-game suspension. Malkin scored two goals and added an assist in the Penguins’ 7-2 rout of the league-leading Colorado Avalanche.

“We were skating together there, so to see him come in like that after missing five games was huge,” Crosby said. “He set the bar high.”