Sidney Crosby Injured at Olympics, Status Uncertain for Penguins

Penguins captain sat out final two Olympic games due to lower-body injury

Feb. 22, 2026 at 9:26pm

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Sidney Crosby, the captain of the Canadian Olympic hockey team, suffered a lower-body injury during the quarterfinal round of the 2026 Winter Olympics. He ended up missing the semifinal and gold medal games, receiving a silver medal. Crosby said he was "pretty close" to playing in the final, but the injury kept him sidelined. The Pittsburgh Penguins, Crosby's NHL team, are now awaiting his return to action as they continue their season.

Why it matters

Crosby is the face of the Penguins franchise and one of the NHL's biggest stars. His injury at the Olympics is a major concern for the Penguins, who are having a better season than expected and will want their captain back as soon as possible to maintain their playoff positioning.

The details

Crosby was in uniform for the Olympic gold medal game but did not play, receiving a silver medal instead. The injury appeared to be to his right knee and occurred during the quarterfinal round. He ended up missing both the semifinal win over Finland and the gold medal loss to the United States.

  • Crosby was injured during the quarterfinal round of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
  • He missed the semifinal win over Finland and the gold medal loss to the United States.

The players

Sidney Crosby

The captain of the Canadian Olympic hockey team and a star player for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL.

Kris Letang

A teammate of Crosby's on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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What they’re saying

“Knowing him, it must have been hard. He probably sat in the locker with his gear on and watched it on TV.”

— Kris Letang

“I was pretty close [to playing].”

— Sidney Crosby

What’s next

The Penguins return to play on Thursday at home against the New Jersey Devils, but it's unclear if Crosby will be able to return to the lineup at that time.

The takeaway

Crosby's injury at the Olympics is a major concern for the Penguins, who will need their star player back as soon as possible to maintain their strong start to the season and playoff positioning. The team and fans will be closely monitoring his recovery and status for his return to action.