PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins will need to continue their pursuit of a playoff spot, but will do so without star players Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Head Coach Dan Muse announced that both athletes are currently listed as “day-to-day” due to their ailments and will be absent from Saturday’s matchup versus Dallas.
Crosby incurred an issue with his lower body during the initial period of a 4-3 shootout win held in Ottawa on Thursday. The 38-year-old Crosby was sidelined for roughly a month not long ago following a similar lower-body setback incurred while representing Team Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympic Games.
Malkin is set to miss his third consecutive game as he manages an upper-body ailment that surfaced after their defeat by Carolina on March 22.
Entering Saturday, Pittsburgh held the second position in the Metropolitan Division rankings, holding a single-point advantage over both Columbus and the New York Islanders, with 10 fixtures left on their schedule.
These physical setbacks occur during a particularly demanding period for the Penguins, as they are scheduled to visit the Islanders on Monday, followed by hosting the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. The Pittsburgh team is endeavoring to qualify for the playoffs again, a feat they have not achieved since 2022.
