Sidney Crosby tops Pittsburgh's internal points with 17 points (5 + 12) in just as many matches, despite having been suffering with groin trouble since the preseason.

But now the team can do without the big star, who underwent an operation on Thursday and will be gone for at least six weeks ahead.

Crosby left the ice damaged in the meeting with Chicago at the beginning of the week, but it was unclear in what way he was hurting. First he collided with Swedish Erik Gustafsson and stayed on the ice for a short while. In the sequence afterwards, Gustafsson fired a shot on Crosby's foot.

Several stars damaged

For the Penguins, this is one in the line of many tough bouts this season. Previously missing, among other things, back star Kris Letang and long-term injured Swedish Patric Hörnqvist. Jevgenij Malkin has recently returned after missing eleven matches.

According to US ESPN, this has also played into why Crosby has played on despite pain lately.

Sidney Crosby has had some injury concerns during his career, but had played in 410 of the Penguins' 427 recent matches before that.