PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins will be without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on Saturday against the Dallas Stars. However, the team only listed Crosby as “day to day” with a lower-body injury, a sign that he could return to the lineup soon.

Crosby left the Penguins’ game Thursday against the Ottawa Senators after taking one shift in the second period. Ottawa’s Nick Cousins hit him in what appeared to be a relatively harmless play. Crosby appeared to favor his right leg for the remainder of that shift and then left for the locker room. He re-entered the game in the second period, but quickly returned to the locker room after one shift, which prompted the Penguins to rule him out for the remainder of the contest.

Coach Dan Muse was asked if Crosby’s absence is related to the injury Crosby sustained while playing for Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, which kept him out for 11 games earlier this month.

“It’s a lower-body injury,” Muse responded.

The Penguins, who host the Dallas Stars at 5 p.m. ET Saturday, are clinging to a playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division during their quest to reach the postseason for the first time since 2022.

Crosby, who has been extremely durable during the second half of his career, had only been in the lineup for five games before this latest injury.

One month earlier, Crosby, the captain of Team Canada, was injured against the Czech Republic in the Olympic quarterfinals. While he attempted to play in the gold-medal game against the United States, Crosby did not receive medical clearance to participate. The United States beat Canada in overtime for the gold medal.

Following the Olympics, Crosby was held out of the lineup for another three weeks while nursing a Grade 2 MCL tear in his left knee.

Crosby has produced 28 goals and 64 points in 61 games this season for the surprising Penguins.

Following Saturday’s game against the Stars, the Penguins have three showdowns against likely Eastern Conference playoff contenders in four days. They’re scheduled to play the New York Islanders, Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning during that stretch.

Malkin will miss a third consecutive game Saturday after injuring his hand last Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Penguins have recalled forward Rutger McGroarty from the franchise’s AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. McGroarty will play today.

So will Stuart Skinner, as the Penguins have nixed their goaltender rotation by giving him a second straight start.