Penguins' Sidney Crosby to return to ice after Olympics injury
by Alex Butler · UPIMarch 18 (UPI) -- Center Sidney Crosby will return from a lower body injury and play Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced.
Crosby hasn't played since he was hurt during Canada's win over Czechia in a Winter Olympics quarterfinal Feb. 18 in Milan, Italy. Upon his return, the Penguins said he would miss up to four weeks. Crosby missed the team's last 11 games.
"I'm excited to get back in it," Crosby told reporters Wednesday.
The Penguins went 5-3-3 without Crosby.
"It's never easy watching, but I think you gain even more appreciation when you're up top and you see on a nightly basis the way we compete, the way we work, coming back in games, a lot of different things," Crosby said. "I just want to jump in there and contribute as best I can."
Crosby, 38, totaled 27 goals and 32 assists through his first 56 appearances this season for the Penguins (34-18-15), who sit in second place in the Eastern Conference's Metropolitan Division.
Pittsburgh will play the first-place Hurricanes (42-19-6) at 7 p.m. EDT Wednesday in Raleigh, N.C.
Winter Olympics: Team USA defeats Canada, earns gold in hockey
Team USA poses with their medals for a group photo after winning the men's hockey gold medal game between the USA and Canada at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on February 22, 2026. USA defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime. Canada takes home the silver and Slovakia won bronze. Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI | License Photo