The challenge of replacing the irreplaceable Sidney Crosby is a lot of things for the Pittsburgh Penguins.<\/p>\n
Immense? Certainly.<\/p>\n
Daunting? Absolutely.<\/p>\n
Impossible? Perhaps.<\/p>\n
But not complicated, at least in the eyes of his healthy teammates, who suggest all they have to do is offer a little bit more on an individual basis to collectively compensate for their captain as he convalesces from a suspected right leg injury he suffered while skating for Canada in the Olympics.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody\u2019s got to step up,\u201d forward Bryan Rust said. \u201cNot just with their play but with how we handle the locker room, how we handle the ebbs and flows of the game. All those little things.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Thursday, they did enough things of various sizes to get a considerably positive result, a 4-1 victory against the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena.<\/p>\n
Rookie goaltender Arturs Silovs made 28 saves on 29 shots, boosting his record to 12-7-8.<\/p>\n
Placed on injured reserve on Wednesday morning, Crosby is expected to be sidelined for a minimum of four weeks during his recovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor sure, he\u2019s a big part of the team, but there\u2019s guys who can step up,\u201d Silovs said of Crosby. \u201cIf I can do it for the time (until) he comes back, we\u2019re going to be in a great spot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Penguins forward Tommy Novak \u2014 entrusted with the top-line center duties as Crosby begins his recovery \u2014 opened the scoring with his 12th goal of the season 18 minutes, 51 seconds into regulation during a power-play sequence.<\/p>\n
Off some hot potato passing around the perimeter of New Jersey\u2019s zone, Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin faked a shot, then one-touched a puck from the right circle to the high slot, where Penguins defenseman Kris Letang golfed a one-timer toward the cage. Spinning through the crease, Novak managed to deflect the puck with his stick past goaltender Jacob Markstrom\u2019s glove. Letang and Malkin had assists.<\/p>\n
pic.twitter.com\/F9I82NIp0z<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 EN Videos (@ENVideos19) February 27, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cQuick movement around the power play,\u201d Novak said. \u201cThen (Letang) with the one-timer just hit my stick. It was going pretty fast. Luckily, it hit my stick and went in.\u201d<\/p>\n The visitors tied the game at 4:56 of the second period via forward Paul Cotter\u2019s sixth goal during a delayed penalty.<\/p>\n Accepting a pass near the right point of the offensive zone, Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton hammered a one-timer. Positioned just to the right of the crease, Cotter spun away from the shot, which managed to glance off of his right leg and get past Silovs\u2019 glove. Hamilton and forward Jack Hughes hauled in assists.<\/p>\n The Penguins issued a coach\u2019s challenge, claiming goaltender interference, but officials found no such evidence of malfeasance, resulting in a bench minor for delay of game for the Penguins.<\/p>\n pic.twitter.com\/xB1oSNe4Mx<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 EN Videos (@ENVideos19) February 27, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n On the season, the Penguins are 0 for 6 in coach\u2019s challenges on the grounds of goaltender interference.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m at least that right now,\u201d Muse quipped, regarding his sextet of futility. \u201cThe goalie interference is, it\u2019s not always clear cut. \u2026 I think a lot of it depends on where we\u2019re at in the game.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I know what the record is. Honestly, I\u2019m not too concerned with that. I think that I\u2019ll just keep challenging until I get one, or I don\u2019t. I\u2019m going to go off of what I feel like is the best thing in that moment. And sometimes, too, I want to back up our goalie. And I didn\u2019t think he got a totally fair shake there making that save.\u201d<\/p>\n Silovs, who suited up for Latvia in the Olympics, was candid on what the NHL defines as goaltender interference.<\/p>\n \u201cProbably in the Olympics, it wouldn\u2019t count,\u201d Silovs said. \u201cHere it counts. It\u2019s different rules. We tried to challenge, wasn\u2019t successful.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really hard to understand what it is and isn\u2019t (goaltender interference).\u201d<\/p>\n An unconventional source restored a lead for the Penguins at 6:30 of the third period when defenseman Connor Clifton scored his second goal.<\/p>\n From above New Jersey\u2019s left circle, Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea stroked a slapper that clunked off the crossbar and deflected to the far half-wall. As Markstrom struggled to locate the rebound, Clifton gathered it in and fired a slapper toward a half-open cage on the near side. Shea and forward Anthony Mantha merited assists.<\/p>\n SHEAZO WITH THE OL’ OFF THE CROSSBAR APPLE ???? <\/p>\n CLIFFY HAMMERS IT FOR THE LEAD!!! pic.twitter.com\/esMbpbziNW<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) February 27, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201c(Shea) went off the bar and it came right to my stick for a one-timer,\u201d Clifton said. \u201cSo, I just shot it. Not too much more than that, but we were getting some chances. Fortunate to get that goal.\u201d<\/p>\n A more conventional source padded the Penguins\u2019 lead only 50 seconds later when forward Egor Chinakov collected his 12th goal.<\/p>\n Securing a loose puck in front of the home bench, Malkin curled away from Devils forward Jesper Bratt and snapped a stretch pass to Chinakhov as the Devils made a clumsy line change. Taking advantage of the mishap, Chinakhov hustled in on a breakaway and deposited a wrister past Markstrom\u2019s left leg. Malkin had the only assist.<\/p>\n CHINNY SHOWING OFF THE NEW DAD STRENGTH ????<\/p>\n 2 GOALS – 50 SECONDS! https:\/\/t.co\/CmvaEn2tKI<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/9ZQXKvbtWZ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) February 27, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s had like four goals that look just like that this year,\u201d Novak said. \u201cJust flying. Little chip shots. He\u2019s so fast. He gets so many opportunities like that. He\u2019s bound to score a lot. It\u2019s fun to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n Penguins forward Blake Lizotte capped the scoring while short-handed with his seventh goal on an empty net at 18:01 of the third frame. There were no assists.<\/p>\n pic.twitter.com\/KRlBn1NfLy<\/a><\/p>\n