In the immediate future, the Penguins face a pair of challenging matchups that the legend could miss as a precaution. Pittsburgh will host the Dallas Stars on Saturday before traveling to face the New York Islanders on Monday. While nothing has been confirmed, those two games represent the most realistic short-term window for a cautious approach as the team evaluates Crosby’s condition.

Beyond that stretch, the schedule remains demanding. The Penguins return home to face the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, then take on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday before a pair of matchups against the Florida Panthers. If Crosby needs additional time, this run of games could become increasingly important for Pittsburgh’s playoff positioning.

Penguins in tight playoff race as Sidney Crosby’s injury adds pressure

Pittsburgh’s situation in the standings makes Crosby’s health even more critical. The Penguins sit in second place in the Metropolitan Division with 88 points, holding just a one-point edge over both the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Islanders. With so little separation, any slip during this stretch could quickly alter the divisional race.

The Wild Card picture offers little breathing room as well. The Ottawa Senators remain close with 86 points, while the Detroit Red Wings sit at 84. That limited cushion means Pittsburgh cannot afford an extended slump, especially with several head-to-head matchups against contenders still ahead.

For now, the Penguins’ clearest path to the Stanley Cup playoffs is clinching a top-three spot in the Metropolitan Division. Doing so would avoid the volatility of the Wild Card race, but that margin remains thin. Crosby’s status, even for just a few games, could play a decisive role in how Pittsburgh will navigate the final stretch.

However, a report from Josh Yohe gave positive signs about the situation. “He appeared to be walking with no limp following the game. Didn’t appear to be wearing a brace of any kind.”

The Penguins remain in the race to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs and, over the past month, had already dealt with a previous lower-body injury for Crosby that occurred during the 2026 Winter Olympics.

What is Sidney Crosby’s injury?

Sidney Crosby reportedly suffered a left leg injury. Importantly, it is not the same area as his previous issue during the 2026 Winter Olympics. So far, there is no official recovery timeline.

How long will Sidney Crosby be out for?

So far, the Penguins have not said how long Sidney Crosby will be out. The only thing known is that they canceled Friday’s practice, which has increased uncertainty surrounding the player. Pittsburgh will play on Saturday against the Dallas Stars.

According to a report by Taylor Haase, the Pens canceled practice on Friday, a move that immediately raised questions about Crosby’s availability following his left leg injury against the Ottawa Senators.

“The Pittsburgh Penguins canceled their practice that was originally scheduled for Friday. So, there likely won’t be an update on Sidney Crosby until pregame on Saturday.”

Sidney Crosby’s injury update delayed

The situation feels familiar for those who followed Sidney Crosby’s injury during the 2026 Olympics. At that time, Team Canada also held closed-door sessions and limited media availability, making it difficult to determine the severity of his issue.

Now, with practice canceled and no formal update expected until game day, uncertainty has once again taken center stage. The decision to cancel practice removes one of the few opportunities for reporters to observe Crosby’s status firsthand.

If Crosby is unavailable, even briefly, it could impact Pittsburgh’s preparation for a critical stretch. The Penguins remain in a tight race in the Metropolitan Division, and every game carries playoff implications. Losing clarity around their top player complicates lineup planning and raises concerns about how the team will respond.

The veteran was forced to leave the game after experiencing discomfort in his left knee. Importantly, this new issue is unrelated to the previous injury that sidelined him for a month following the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Crosby’s situation is key if the Penguins want to reach the Stanley Cup playoffs. According to a report from Taylor Haase, there are positive signs. “For what it’s worth, I saw Sidney Crosby and he wasn’t moving with a limp or anything. Seemed normal.”

How long will Sidney Crosby be out?

Early reports suggest that Sidney Crosby may not be sidelined for an extended period. The injury appears manageable, and with proper rest and treatment, he could return sooner than many feared.

Can the Penguins make the playoffs?

The Penguins can make the playoffs as they are in second place in the Metropolitan Division with 88 points. They control their destiny in what will be a tight battle with the Blue Jackets and the Islanders.

“Still got to get some updates. I got to talk to the medical staff some more. It’s lower body, but I don’t have any other updates for you now,” Penguins coach Dan Muse said about Crosby’s condition, according to NHL.com.

Crosby, who has recently taken responsibility for the Penguins’ defensive struggles, had earlier left the ice at the end of the first period after appearing to tangle up his left leg. He finished the game with one shot on goal in 6:39 of ice time.

Since returning from his injury, Crosby has been on a four-game point streak (one goal, four assists) and leads Pittsburgh with 64 points (28 goals, 36 assists) in 61 games this season.

Crosby’s injury and recent form

Crosby suffered a lower-body injury during the second period of Team Canada’s 4-3 overtime win against Team Czechia in the 2026 Winter Olympics quarterfinals on Feb. 18.

He missed the semifinals and Team Canada’s 2-1 overtime loss to Team USA in the gold medal game on Feb. 22. He returned to the Penguins on March 18 against the Carolina Hurricanes and immediately contributed to the offense.

Penguins’ response, team outlook

“When Sid leaves, we have to step up—and everyone did today,” said Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson, who had a goal and two assists in the win. The Penguins (36-20-16) moved into second place in the Metropolitan Division with the victory and will next host the Dallas Stars at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday.

“We were a little bit sluggish for whatever reason,” Todd McLellan commented after the Red Wings lost 3-2 to the Senators, via NHL.com.

Detroit outshot Ottawa 35-21, but was inefficient and paid the price for it. After this defeat, and considering they were coming off a loss to the Boston Bruins, the Red Wings have now dropped consecutive outings against direct opponents in the race for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the 2025-26 NHL season. McLellan is well aware the Red Wings are now standing on thin ice, and something must change.

Where Red Wings stand in playoff race

Detroit is currently on the outside looking in. The Red Wings sit in sixth place in the Atlantic Division and are one point behind the Senators—the last wild-card berth at the moment. A win over the Sens would’ve put the Red Wings in a playoff spot while giving them a three-point lead over their divisional counterparts.

While deflating, this defeat is far from season-ending for Detroit, but it does complicate things more than they needed to be in Motor City. The Red Wings have missed the playoffs in each of their last nine seasons, and they are now facing a very real possibility of missing the postseason for a 10th straight year.

With the Buffalo Sabres sitting in first place in the Atlantic Division, the Red Wings could go on to have the longest active playoff drought in the NHL. Perhaps not even the “Yzerplan” rebuild and McLellan’s arrival will help change the tune in Detroit, as fans in the 313 have been treated to the same old heartbreaking Red Wings for a decade now.

“I don’t know what to say,” J.T. Miller admitted after the game, per NHL.com. “We got outplayed, we got outcompeted. Things that we’re just not OK with as a group and it’s a shame on a night like tonight.”

Mike Sullivan, who held Drew Fortescue out of his NHL debut, has much work to do if he wants the Blueshirts to finish the 2025–26 season with a slight beacon of hope. If the Rangers don’t show signs of improvement, they could be in for a very long and tiring offseason.

Hearing the culture-changing captain sound defeated amid a five-game losing streak is anything but an encouraging sign for the organization in the City That Never Sleeps. Something has got to change for the Rangers, or they might be another changing of the guard in The Big Apple.

NY Rangers bested by Senators

Scoreboard-watchers may be deceived if they only stick to the 2–1 final on the jumbotron. The action on the ice was anything but reminiscent of a one-score game. Hadn’t it been for Igor Shesterkin’s heroics, the game could’ve been over well before the final frame.

Ottawa outshot New York 33–10. New York’s 10 shots on goal tied their record for least in a game since the NHL tracks such statistic. The Rangers didn’t score until the third period, and it was eventually too little, too late.

In more ways than one, the Blueshirts played like they usually do at home, and the end result stayed the same. Yet another home defeat, and the Rangers are now 9–18–7 at “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”

“The Senators’ penalty will now involve the forfeiture of their first round pick in 2026 in favor of the right instead to pick 32nd overall in the 2026 NHL Draft (the last pick in the first round),” the NHL’s official statement read.

Moreover, the league announced the Senators aren’t allowed to trade or transfer their first-round selection (32nd overall) in 2026. If the Senators miss the postseason, they will enter the NHL Draft Lottery but cannot win the first overall pick—also known as “the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes”.

Thus, the league will put Ottawa through some sort of torture. The Sens can watch the lottery, but if their name winds up in first place, a re-draw will occur. In addition to this decision, Ottawa must pay a fine of $1 million (CDN). This sum translates to roughly $734,600 USD. That’s near the neighborhood of a league-minimum, two-way contract in the NHL ($775,000).

The story behind Senators’ sanction

To fully understand the latest announcement from the NHL, we must go back in time. In July 2021, the Senators sent Dadonov to the Golden Knights in a trade that involved Nick Holden and a third-round pick in the 2022 Entry Draft. However, Ottawa left a key detail out of the conversation with Las Vegas: Dadonov’s contract included a no-trade clause.

The organization in Sin City didn’t learn that until March 2022, when the Knights agreed to trade Dadonov to the Ducks. Little did they know, the Russian winger had vetoed Anaheim. As a result, the trade fell through. Vegas and its front office were the laughingstock of the league for a while after the failed deal.

Immediately after, the Knights claimed the Sens had kept them out of the loop, and an investigation was launched. The result? The original sanction stated that Ottawa was to forfeit one of its first-round picks in 2024, 2025, or 2026. Now that’s changed, and the Senators will be allowed to select in the first round, but will do so in last place.

After the game, Matthews did not hold back when assessing the team’s effort. “I thought we started better. I mean, just kind of lost it there. Just really disconnected throughout all three zones. Just bad. Just fairly embarrassing to be honest with you. We need to have more pride in our play no matter where we’re at and no matter what the situation is.”

Toronto’s situation is becoming increasingly precarious as the Leafs have lost three consecutive games after the 2026 Winter Olympics break and, overall, 11 of their last 15 matchups.

Can the Leafs make the NHL playoffs in 2026?

Following the defeat, the Leafs now sit at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with 63 points, a position that significantly complicates their hopes of qualifying for the NHL playoffs in the Eastern Conference. With every game becoming critical, the margin for error is rapidly disappearing.

Matthews addressed the mindset the group must adopt moving forward. “We just have to have more pride in our game. We didn’t have that tonight. It’s never fun to lose in this kind of fashion. It’s hard. It definitely wears on you, but we just have to be better. There’s no hanging our heads. There’s no feeling sorry for ourselves. Everybody’s got to look in the mirror and be better.”

If the Maple Leafs hope to turn their season around, it will require more than words. With time running out, the response over the next stretch of games will ultimately determine whether they can salvage their playoff aspirations or face an early offseason. It’s going to be a massive uphill battle to achieve a comeback in the standings.

Coach Travis Green indicated optimism about Tkachuk’s return, suggesting the forward could be back “sooner than later”, according to NHL.com. Tkachuk could return from a thumb injury this week for the Senators.

Tkachuk, 26, has now returned to full participation in practice, offering a boost to both the locker room and on-ice leadership. Coach Green praised the team’s resilience and noted the captain’s readiness to rejoin the squad.

The captain Tkachuk expressed his eagerness to return and contribute to what the club has built during his absence: “I think they’re kind of doing whatever it takes to win. The compete and will to win level is the highest I’ve ever seen, so just looking to add to that when we get back and join what they’ve built the last five weeks.”

Tkachuk’s impact

Even while sidelined, Tkachuk’s presence has been felt. He has totaled 407 points in 515 NHL regular-season games and seven points in six Stanley Cup Playoff contests.

General manager Steve Staios also highlighted the captain’s leadership during his recovery, emphasizing the team’s commitment to maintaining performance in his absence. “Brady’s done all he can to continue to lead, even with his injury, being in and around the group,” Staios said.

As Ottawa looks ahead, Tkachuk’s imminent return is expected to strengthen both scoring and morale, giving the Senators a key boost as they push through the road-heavy November schedule.

In the century-long history, hoisting the Stanley Cup is the ultimate prize, the gold standard against which all 32 franchises are measured. While teams boast deep traditions and countless playoff runs, the narrative is different for others.

The NHL‘s expansion era, which began in the late 1960s and continued well into the 21st century, brought the excitement of professional hockey to new markets, spreading the wealth of talent and fan engagement. However, the introduction of fresh clubs also meant starting from scratch.

This disparity creates a compelling backdrop for examining the league’s competitive balance. While perennial contenders often overshadow the less successful teams, it is the franchises with the scarcest Final appearances that tell an equally dramatic tale of organizational growing pains.

Nashville Predators | 1 Stanley Cup Final appearance

Since joining the NHL in 1998, the Nashville Predators have been perennial playoff contenders—but the Stanley Cup Final has eluded them nearly their entire existence. Their lone trip to the Final came in the 2016–17 season, a breakthrough run that saw them upset higher-seeded teams and capture the imagination of a hockey city.

That playoff run was built on grit. As the 8th seed, Nashville swept the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, then proceeded to knock off the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks to reach the Final. But despite their underdog momentum, they fell short in the championship round—denied the ultimate hardware, and left to chase that dream again.

Even after that near miss, the Predators remain defined by ambition. Their only Stanley Cup Final berth stands as a reminder of both how far they’ve come and how much remains to be done. Among NHL franchises, they are a clear example of sustained competitiveness that has yet to cross the final threshold.

San Jose Sharks | 1 appearance

The San Jose Sharks, founded in 1991, came agonizingly close to their first Stanley Cup in the 2016 Final. That season marked a watershed moment: the franchise’s first-ever appearance in the Cup Final after years of regular playoff appearances.

Facing the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Sharks pushed hard, igniting massive passion throughout the Bay Area. But in Game 6 at home, the Penguins pulled away with a 3–1 win, sealing the series 4–2. Despite the defeat, the Sharks’ run remains a defining moment for a team that long seemed cursed outside of regular-season success.

That lone Final appearance still carries weight. For San Jose, it’s more than a missed title: it’s proof that the arena-level brilliance, big-game talent, and high-caliber coaching can converge—if only one more time.

Ottawa Senators | 1 appearance

The modern Ottawa Senators, re-established in 1992, have only made it to the Stanley Cup Final once, in 2007. It was a milestone for a younger franchise hoping to shake the “expansion team” label, but the outcome was bitter: Ottawa lost the Final 4–1 to the Anaheim Ducks.

That series was the high-water mark for the early Senators era. They entered the playoffs with momentum, but Anaheim’s composure and experience proved too much in the long run.

For Ottawa, that single Final trip is both a source of pride and a frustration. It serves as a reminder that they have tasted what’s possible—but also how far they must go to break through and claim their first Stanley Cup.

Vegas Golden Knights | 2 appearances

The Vegas Golden Knights remain one of the most compelling stories in modern NHL history. As a young expansion team, they stunned the league by reaching the Stanley Cup Final in just their second season (2018), only to fall to the Washington Capitals.

But what makes their legacy even more extraordinary is what came next: in 2023, the Knights returned to the Final and closed the deal, beating the Florida Panthers 4–1. The clincher happened in dramatic fashion — a 9–3 Game 5 at home, highlighted by captain Mark Stone’s hat trick and Jonathan Marchessault earning Conn Smythe honors.

Anaheim Ducks | 2 appearances

The Anaheim Ducks’ journey to the Stanley Cup Final reads like a Hollywood script. Their first appearance came in 2003 when they were still known as the Mighty Ducks — facing the New Jersey Devils in a grueling seven-game series, and ultimately falling short.

But four years later, in 2007, they returned with renewed strength. That year, Anaheim defeated the Ottawa Senators in just five games to claim their first and only Stanley Cup. What makes that victory especially rich in story is that it marked a full-circle moment for a franchise born out of pop culture: the movie-inspired Ducks had become champions in real life.

Carolina Hurricanes | 2 appearances

The Carolina Hurricanes have had their share of Stanley Cup Final drama, and their narrative is as poignant as it is triumphant. Their first Final came in 2002, but they were outclassed by a powerhouse Detroit Red Wings squad.

Undeterred, the Hurricanes returned in 2006 for a rematch on a grand stage — this time against the Edmonton Oilers. Down to the wire, they forced a Game 7 and captured the Cup by winning 3–1 on home ice, with rookie Cam Ward earning Conn Smythe honors. That moment became a defining chapter: a franchise that had tasted disappointment climbing all the way to the summit.

Washington Capitals | 2 appearances

The Washington Capitals’ championship story is rooted in perseverance. Their first Stanley Cup Final came in 1998, but they suffered a sweep at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings.

It would take two decades of near-misses, heartbreaks, and reinvention before they finally broke through. In 2018, led by Alex Ovechkin, the Capitals defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in five games to win their first-ever Stanley Cup.

Buffalo Sabres | 2 appearances

The Buffalo Sabres’ Stanley Cup Final story is defined by frustration, resilience, and the kind of heartbreak that becomes part of a franchise’s mythology. Their first appearance came in 1975, during the era of the famed “French Connection,” but the run ended at the hands of a dominant Flyers squad.

Decades later, in 1999, Buffalo returned to the Final only to endure one of the most infamous endings in NHL history — Brett Hull’s overtime goal counted despite the disputed “skate in the crease,” sealing the series for Dallas and leaving Sabres fans with a lingering rallying cry: “No Goal”. For a team still chasing its first championship, those near-misses loom larger than any banner.

Colorado Avalanche | 3 appearances

Colorado Avalanche’s relationship with the Stanley Cup Final is a showcase of transformation — from relocation to immediate glory. After moving from Quebec in 1995, the newly minted Avalanche wasted no time, reaching and winning the Final in 1996 behind Joe Sakic’s leadership and Patrick Roy’s brilliance.

Their second title came in 2001, capping off Ray Bourque’s storied career with an emotional finish that remains one of the league’s most iconic moments. And two decades later, the Avalanche surged back in 2022, blending speed, youth, and firepower to defeat Tampa Bay and claim their third championship.

Los Angeles Kings | 3 appearances

The Los Angeles Kings spent decades as an underdog franchise — a team with flashes of star power but little postseason reward. Their first Stanley Cup Final appearance arrived in 1993 during the Wayne Gretzky era, a magical run that ended against the Montreal Canadiens. Nearly twenty years later, Los Angeles reinvented itself with a bruising, defensively suffocating identity that changed everything.

In 2012, the Kings stormed through the playoffs as the unexpected eighth seed, winning the Stanley Cup with a mix of grit and dominance. They returned in 2014 with even greater resilience, surviving three straight seven-game series before defeating the Rangers for their second championship.