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Dan Muse provides an update on Sidney Crosby's anticipated comeback
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Josh Getzoff reported Stuart Skinner starts in Carolina, Sidney Crosby stays in limbo, and the Penguins face another lineup squeeze tonight.
Josh Getzoff echoed Dan Muse, saying Crosby's status has not changed, while Sam Girard is day to day and Connor Clifton goes in.
That matters because Girard carries a $5 million cap hit through 2026-27, Clifton is at $3.33 million through this season, and Pittsburgh needs clean exits more than chaos right now.
Skinner is not just a name on the card either.
He came over from Edmonton on December 12 with a $2.6 million cap hit, and his 2025-26 line sits at 19-13-7 with a 2.74 GAA and .890 save percentage.
Against Carolina, that fit is obvious.
The Hurricanes pressure low, attack off retrievals, and force goalies to handle second chances. Skinner already beat them 5-1 on December 30 with 27 saves, so Muse is betting on a familiar read.
"I think we're going in the right direction. Nothing's changed right now in terms of status, nothing's changed in terms of anything else. We'll continue to take it a step at a time. But it's obviously great having him out there."
- Dan Muse
- Dan Muse
Sidney Crosby still hangs over Pittsburgh Penguins plans
You can feel the fan base doing the same math, survive one more night now and hope Crosby changes everything later.
Crosby was placed on injured reserve on February 25 after a lower body injury at the Olympics, and Tuesday brought only the same careful tone from Muse.
That is the hard part for Pittsburgh.
Crosby has 27-32-59, and when 59 points sit out, every breakout pass and every lost faceoff feels heavier than usual.
The Penguins are 32-17-14, one point ahead of the Islanders, while Carolina sits 40-17-6. This is not just a March game, it is standings pressure in plain sight.
Clifton replacing Girard likely means a simpler look.
Less deception, more straight lines, more glass and out. That can work for one night, but it puts even more weight on Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson to move the puck with pace.
So the thinking angle is simple, get saves, defend the middle, and drag this thing to the third.
If Pittsburgh does that, Wednesday's conversation stays about survival. If not, the Crosby countdown gets even louder before the road trip rolls on.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 10|110 ANSWERS Dan Muse provides an update on Sidney Crosby's anticipated comeback Will Sidney Crosby's eventual return change the Penguins playoff push? | ||
| Yes | 105 | 95.5 % |
| No | 5 | 4.5 % |
| List of polls | ||