Sidney Crosby sidelined for at least a month due to injury from the Olympics, impacting the Penguins.

Crosby Out for a Month with Injury During Olympic Play

In a major setback for the NHL, one of its brightest stars will be out of commission due to an injury that arose in Milan. This was a key worry for team owners before the league agreed to let players participate in the Olympics for the first time since 2014.

Pittsburgh Penguins’ captain Sidney Crosby is reportedly sidelined for a minimum of four weeks due to a lower-body injury. This injury occurred during Canada’s quarterfinal victory over the Czech Republic, leading the team to officially place him on injured reserve.

At 38, Crosby suffered a serious hit when Radko Gudas collided with his right leg, and he was subsequently pinned against the boards by both Gudas and Martin Necas.

Following this incident, Crosby could not continue in the tournament, watching his team fall in overtime to the United States in the gold medal match. This might have been his last opportunity to take home Olympic gold, having previously been part of the championship teams in 2010 and 2014.

“It’s a tough call,” Crosby remarked after missing the final game. “You always want to fight through it, but you have to know when to step back. Watching the team today, they played incredibly well.”

This news hits particularly hard for the Penguins, who currently sit second in the Metropolitan Division, trailing the Blue Jackets and Capitals—both of whom are just outside playoff contention in the Eastern Conference.

With playoff hopes hanging in the balance, Pittsburgh is determined to break a three-year playoff drought, especially after making it for 16 consecutive seasons prior.

During this season, Crosby managed to participate in all 56 games for the team, contributing 27 goals and 32 assists.

If he can return in around four weeks, he might be back just in time for the final stretch of the Penguins’ schedule, which includes about 10 remaining games.

Pittsburgh heads into the Olympic break boasting a 14-3-3 record over their last 20 contests as they attempt to salvage their season sans their long-time captain.