Fri Feb 21 01:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby Out With Upper-Body Injury
**NEW YORK, NY** – Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will miss his first game of the season due to an upper-body injury, sidelining him for Friday’s matchup against the New York Rangers. The injury marks the end of Crosby’s impressive 229-game regular season streak, his last missed game being April 7, 2022, due to illness.
Crosby participated in Friday morning’s skate, offering a glimmer of hope, but coach Mike Sullivan confirmed he wouldn’t play. While the team is taking a day-by-day approach, Sullivan acknowledged the significant impact of Crosby’s absence, calling him “the heartbeat of this team.”
The injury may have stemmed from a collision during Tuesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils, though Crosby downplayed the incident post-game. Rickard Rakell will fill in at center for Crosby, moving up to the first line.
Crosby’s absence is a significant blow to the Penguins, who are already without Evgeni Malkin due to a lower-body injury. This marks the first time the team has been without both star players since November 13, 2021. The Penguins face a crucial stretch of games before the 4 Nations Face-Off, where Crosby is slated to captain Team Canada. Coach Sullivan expressed hope that Crosby will recover in time for the tournament, emphasizing the importance of his captain’s health and the tournament’s significance to him.
Despite the injuries, Sullivan remains confident in his team’s ability to compete, stressing the need for increased effort and structure. The Penguins, currently eight points behind a playoff spot, face a challenging fight for a postseason berth. Rakell, who will also play for Sweden in the 4 Nations Face-Off, acknowledged the difficulty of filling Crosby’s shoes but expressed confidence in the team’s capability to step up.
First Piper 