The Pittsburgh Penguins will have to rely on their depth as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin sit out Saturday’s game against the Dallas Stars due to injuries. Crosby, 38, is nursing a lower-body injury sustained in Thursday’s 4-3 shootout win in Ottawa, where he missed about a month earlier this season after a similar ailment during the Milan Cortina Olympics. Malkin, meanwhile, is dealing with an upper-body injury that’s kept him sidelined for three consecutive games since a March 22 loss to Carolina. Both stars are listed as day-to-day, but their absence could disrupt Pittsburgh’s bid to clinch a playoff spot.

The Penguins entered Saturday in second place in the Metropolitan Division with a one-point lead over Columbus and the New York Islanders, with 10 games remaining in the regular season. Their injury woes come at a critical juncture, as they face a grueling stretch: hosting the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday after Monday’s matchup in New York. Pittsburgh hasn’t made the playoffs since 2022, and Crosby and Malkin’s leadership is vital to their postseason aspirations.

Crosby’s injury history includes a lower-body setback in January that sidelined him for four games, while Malkin has missed 12 games this season due to various ailments. Without their offensive firepower, Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes hinge on younger players stepping up. The team’s recent 4-3 overtime win in Ottawa highlighted their resilience, but the absence of their iconic duo could prove decisive in the tight Metropolitan Division race.