Ben Kindel, Bryan Rust, Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson, and Parker Wotherspoon were also scratched, signaling a significantly altered lineup for the matchup.

Crosby has been out for roughly a month due to a knee injury suffered while playing for Team Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics, contributing to his current absence.

The Penguins had already clinched a playoff berth and solidified second place in the Metropolitan Division with three games left, freeing the club to focus on health and rest for the postseason as they manage ongoing injuries.

The piece notes the historic Penguins–Capitals rivalry and the Crosby–Ovechkin storyline, even as the game shifts toward postseason preparation.

With Crosby out, the Penguins can experiment more with line combinations and rest players for the postseason while preserving home-ice advantage in the first round.

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced that Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will miss the game against the Washington Capitals, both listed as day to day with lower-body and upper-body injuries respectively, as they prioritize postseason readiness.

Meanwhile, the Capitals remained mathematically alive but would likely need to win all remaining games and receive help to reach the postseason.

The report credits PGHHockeyNOW for original coverage, with the game taking place at PPG Paints Arena.

Further updates were expected after coach Dan Morale (Dan Muse) addresses the media at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Readers could find more context via PGHHockeyNOW, with links to the full story and options to download the WPXI news app and follow on social media.

The report reinforces the enduring legacies of Crosby, Malkin for Pittsburgh and Ovechkin for Washington, underscoring the long-running intensity between two elite franchises.