Sidney Crosby: Penguins need 'to find some desperation'

The Pittsburgh Penguins began the 2021-22 NHL season at 3-0-2. They did so without captain Sidney Crosby in the lineup, as the superstar missed the start of the campaign after having wrist surgery on Sept. 8. Crosby made his season debut on Oct. 30 but then became one of eight Pittsburgh players, along with coach Mike Sullivan, to miss time because of the league's COVID-19 protocol. The 34-year-old was on the ice for this past Sunday's 6-1 loss to the rival Washington Capitals that dropped the Penguins to 5-5-4. 

Crosby spoke with reporters Tuesday ahead of an evening home game against the 6-6-2 Buffalo Sabres and didn't hold back about what he expects from the squad moving forward.

"I think we know the situation," Crosby explained, according to Wes Crosby of the league's website. "I think we feel like we've got to find some desperation and some urgency here, just being where we are, the situation that we're in. We've been fighting, really, since Game 1 with whether it be injuries or the virus."

All eight players and Sullivan have cleared the coronavirus-related protocol, and forward Bryan Rust is back from a lower-body injury. Per Michelle Crechiolo of the team's website, Crosby admitted returning to full fitness following a pair of lengthy absences has been challenging.