Sidney Crosby will not wear a Penguin uniform for Game 6 of their first-round series against the New York Rangers on Friday night in Pittsburgh.
Head coach Mike Sullivan confirmed the loss of his captain after the team’s morning practice.
Sullivan said Crosby skated earlier with skating and skill development coach Ty Hennes.
He left Game 5 on Wednesday night after being hit by Jacob Trouba and never returned to the ice.
The Penguins limited themselves by saying Crosby, a victim of concussions in the past, had suffered an upper body injury.
The team has only played two playoff games without Crosby since Nova Scotian entered the NHL in 2005. They won both games, where Evgeni Malkin had three assists.
The Penguins led the series to 3-2 and could eliminate the Rangers.
In Crosby’s absence, Drew O’Connor should be added to the lineup. In practice, Evan Rodrigues occupied the center player position between Danton Heinen and Kasperi Kapanen.
With nine points, Crosby leads all scorers in the series and is tied for 4th in the NHL since the playoffs began.
Without their captain for more than half of Game 5, the Penguins lost a 5-3 defeat at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.
Source: Radio-Canada
