Overview
- Four weeks after his Olympic injury, Crosby came off injured reserve and logged about 18½ minutes in Raleigh following an 11-game absence.
- Carolina edged Pittsburgh 6-5 on Sean Walker’s overtime winner, with Erik Karlsson contributing two goals and an assist for the Penguins.
- Pittsburgh went 5-3-3 without Crosby and finished a five-game trip 2-1-2 to remain second in the Metropolitan Division.
- Despite the layoff, Crosby leads the Penguins with 28 goals and 61 points through 57 games this season.
- Evgeni Malkin returned from a five-game suspension with a 2-goal, 1-assist outing vs. Colorado and says he will resume contract talks with team president Kyle Dubas this summer.