Penguins Rest Crosby, Malkin, Letang for Saturday’s Capitals Game Post-Playoff Berth

The Pittsburgh Penguins are gearing up for their game against the Washington Capitals, but they will be without several key players. Notably, team captain Sidney Crosby is sidelined with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. This game could serve as a historic meeting between Crosby and Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, but Crosby’s absence casts a shadow on the matchup.

Injuries Challenge Penguins

The Penguins will miss a total of eight players for the upcoming game, significantly impacting their lineup. The injury list includes:

• Sidney Crosby (lower-body)
• Ben Kindel (upper-body)
• Evgeni Malkin (upper-body)
• Bryan Rust (lower-body)
• Parker Wotherspoon (upper-body)
• Erik Karlsson (lower-body)
• Kris Letang (upper-body)
• Connor Dewar (lower-body)

Seven of these injured players participated in the Penguins’ recent win against the New Jersey Devils, where Crosby recorded two assists in under 15 minutes of ice time.

Penguins’ Playoff Position

Thanks to their victory over the Devils, the Penguins secured a playoff berth, finishing second in the Metropolitan Division. With the Carolina Hurricanes leading by 10 points, the final three games of the regular season hold little significance for standings.

Upcoming Matchup Details

The Penguins are set to meet the Capitals again on Sunday afternoon in Washington, D.C. Should both Crosby and Ovechkin play, this game will mark their 100th encounter when combining regular season and playoff statistics.