Sidney Crosby to return tonight vs. Carolina

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ELMONT, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 03: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates with the puck against Bo Horvat #14 of the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on February 03, 2026 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Steven Ryan/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

The Penguins received some welcome news today, Sidney Crosby took the morning skate in Raleigh alongside his normal wingers. He did work with the top power play. After practice, coach Dan Muse confirmed that Crosby would return tonight after missing the last 11 NHL games following an injury suffered in the Olympics.

87 is doing line rushes in his usual spot…

Rakell-Crosby-Rust
Mantha-Kindel-Brazeau
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
Soderblom-Dewar-Acciari

Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Shea-Letang
Solovyov-Clifton
(St. Ivany-Girard)

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) March 18, 2026

Dan Muse confirms that Sidney Crosby returns to the lineup tonight against Carolina after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury.

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) March 18, 2026

Crosby spoke briefly about his return.

Sidney Crosby spoke with the media following morning skate in Carolina

"Just happy to finally be back in there." pic.twitter.com/pyCFsObMmm

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 18, 2026

The Penguins managed to go 5-3-3 in Crosby’s absence, a feat more impressive considering a tough schedule plus the loss of Evgeni Malkin for five of those games due to a suspension. The Pens will be looking to get it into gear in the competitive Eastern Conference playoff race, though they’ll have to be careful with the knowledge that the team has lost the last five games when Crosby returned to the lineup following an absence.

On the 22 occasions when Sid has returned to the lineup from a regular season absence of any length, he is 10-16-26 in his first game back. Pens are 13-8-1 in those games, but have lost 5 straight.

— Bob Grove (@bobgrove91) March 18, 2026

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