Pittsburgh Hockey Insider has no direct affiliation to the Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL or NHLPA
Sidney Crosby absence forces Pittsburgh Penguins response, team-wide scoring sinks Devils
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Sidney Crosby's absence tested the Pittsburgh Penguins against the New Jersey Devils, and Thursday's win changed the mood.
Dave Molinari did not sugarcoat the stakes after the Olympic break.
He wrote that the Penguins' game against New Jersey Thursday was the kind they cannot afford to lose, and they did not.
The message was clear. This was a line-in-the-sand moment for a team fighting to stay relevant.
Molinari shared his reaction on X, underscoring how tight the margin feels right now.
Without Crosby in the lineup, every shift carried more weight for the top-six and the blue line.
The Penguins responded with contributions up and down the roster, not just from the usual names.
Sidney Crosby absence tests Pittsburgh Penguins depth
Fans have been anxious all week, and you could feel the relief when the final horn sounded.
Seth Rorabaugh of TribLive leaned into that theme, pointing to opportunity in the middle of uncertainty.
He quoted a player saying you cannot replace what Crosby does, but others will get more ice time to prove themselves.
"Obviously, you can't replace the stuff that he does, but other guys are going to get more opportunity and ice time to show what they can do."
That is the reality when your captain and top center is out.
Crosby drives the man advantage, dictates pace at five-on-five, and sets the emotional temperature.
Without him, the Penguins need cleaner breakouts and more direct attacks off the rush.
They also need secondary scoring to show up every night, not once a week.
Thursday's win over New Jersey was not about style points.
It was about banking two points and proving the room can push back when adversity hits.
Now the challenge is simple and brutal at the same time.
Do it again next game, and turn one resilient night into a stretch that keeps their season alive.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Martin Necas makes admission on six-skater goal vs Canada, the game that Sidney Crosby left hurt
Martin Necas makes admission on six-skater goal vs Canada, the game that Sidney Crosby left hurt
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 27|109 ANSWERS Sidney Crosby absence forces Pittsburgh Penguins response, team-wide scoring sinks Devils Can the Pittsburgh Penguins stay competitive without Sidney Crosby? | ||
| Yes | 96 | 88.1 % |
| No | 13 | 11.9 % |
| List of polls | ||