Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby out Tuesday vs. Stars

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Oct 18, 2021 1:50 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Penguins began the 2021-22 NHL season with three wins in four games without the services of superstar captain Sidney Crosby, who is still recovering from successful surgery on his left wrist that he underwent on Sept. 8.

It was originally thought that Crosby would miss at least the campaign's first four games, and it's now confirmed that's the case.

Per Michelle Crechiolo of the Penguins' website, Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan told reporters Monday that Crosby will not play Tuesday against the Dallas Stars (1-2-0). As Mike Darnay noted for Pensburgh, Crosby skated Monday, so there was brief hope he could return to the lineup Tuesday. However, Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette later added:

Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust are not participating in practice. So we can probably rule out Sid playing the Stars tomorrow.
— Matt Vensel (@mattvensel) October 18, 2021

In some positive news for Penguins fans, star forward Evgeni Malkin was back on the ice for the first time since having offseason knee surgery.

Mike Sullivan said today was the first day that Evgeni Malkin has been on the ice since his knee surgery. #Pens
— Matt Vensel (@mattvensel) October 18, 2021

Malkin is expected to be sidelined for at least the first two months of the season.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, doesn't play again after Tuesday until Saturday's clash with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Crosby's status for that contest likely won't be announced until later this week.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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