Sidney Crosby, the Pittsburgh Penguins' star center, will not participate in the lineup for the match against the New York Rangers on Friday night. His absence is due to an upper-body injury sustained during the Penguins' recent 3-2 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.

Crosby missed practice on Wednesday but returned to practice on Thursday and participated in the morning skate on Friday. Despite his efforts, the decision was made to rule him out for the game against the Rangers. Crosby's injury occurred following a collision with Devils defenseman Luke Hughes and forward Erik Haula in the third period of the game, which forced him to leave the ice while favoring his left arm. However, he managed to finish the game.

This marks the first game Crosby has missed this season. The 37-year-old center is aiming for a swift recovery, as he is set to captain Team Canada at the Four Nations Face-Off, scheduled from February 12 to 20. His current season statistics include 17 goals and 41 assists in 55 games despite challenges faced by the Penguins, who currently hold a record of 22-24-9, placing them seventh in the Metropolitan Division. Crosby has previously served as an assistant captain for Team Canada during the 2010 Winter Olympics and held the captaincy at both the 2014 Olympics and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The upcoming Four Nations Face-Off marks the first international ice hockey tournament featuring top NHL talent since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.