The Pittsburgh Penguins lost Game 5 to the New York Rangers on Wednesday, and they also might have lost their captain.
Sidney Crosby left the game in the second period after taking a hit up high from Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba. He played two more shifts before going to the dressing room with five minutes remaining in the frame and did not return.
After the game, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said that Crosby was dealing with an “upper-body injury” and offered no further details.
When asked about the hit, Sullivan said…
“Did you see the hit? You probably have the same opinion I do.”
After Crosby left the game, the Rangers erased a 2-0 deficit and wound up winning by a score of 5-3. The Penguins have a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, and Game 6 will be played on Friday in Pittsburgh.
Losing Crosby would obviously be a massive blow for the Penguins. The two-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner leads the Penguins with nine points through five games in the series.
Jake Guentzel, one of Crosby’s wingers, said the team will take a next-man-up approach if Crosby is out of the lineup.
“We have plenty of leaders on this team that do a lot,” Guentzel said. “We never want to see a player like that leave, but we have to find a way… He’s the best player in the world. That’s a lot of minutes other guys have to take up. Next man up.”
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