RALEIGH, N.C. — Might the Pittsburgh Penguins get a surprise return much sooner than expected?

Tuesday, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby indeed confirmed he was with the team as they embarked on their five-game road trip. Crosby participated in the full-team morning skate and did so without a white, non-contact jersey.

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The Penguins face the Carolina Hurricanes at the Lenovo Center Tuesday.

Crosby suffered a lower-body injury while leading Team Canada against Czechia in the 2026 Winter Olympics. When he returned to Pittsburgh on Feb. 25 following the games, the team announced he would miss at least four weeks.

However, Crosby joined the team in a non-contact capacity for the optional practice Friday at the UPMC Lemieux Complex.

This season, Crosby has again averaged more than a point per game, scoring 27 goals with 59 points in 56 games. If he finishes with that statistical average, he will extend his NHL-record streak to 21 seasons.

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Crosby remains on injured reserve and took line rushes with extras Evgeni Malkin and Kevin Hayes, indicating nothing has changed with his official status.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now will update the story following the morning skate when coach Dan Muse addresses the media.

Malkin, who will serve the third of his five-game suspension Tuesday against Carolina, was also part of the morning skate.

Injury Updates

Winger Justin Brazeau was not on the ice. Brazeau missed the weekend games, including the Sunday win over the Boston Bruins with an upper-body injury. Saturday, Muse termed him day-to-day, but Tuesday the team updated him to week-to-week.

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This season, Brazeau has a set career-highs with 30 points and 16 goals while playing in 48 games.

The team recalled Ville Koivunen on an emergency basis Saturday, and based on the skate, will remain in the lineup Tuesday. Koivunen had one assist Sunday.

The Penguins also announced that defenseman Sam Girard is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury. And Kevin Hayes, who took part in the skate, is also out with an upper-body injury.

Defenseman Ryan Graves did not take the skate, but will be available for the game.

The post Crosby Takes Morning Skate; Several Injury Updates appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now.

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