Jacob Trouba calls it 'fluky play' on Sidney Crosby hit in Game 5

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Penguins fans figured to be fired up for Game 6 of their team’s first-round playoff series against the Rangers regardless of subplots.

But now they have a doozy, one in which Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba figures to play a starring role on Friday night in Pittsburgh.

It was Trouba whose high hit on Sidney Crosby knocked the Penguins superstar out of Game 5 in the second period, and that might keep him out on Friday.

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan did not provide an update before leaving New York early Thursday, saying merely that Crosby has an upper-body injury and would be reevaluated in Pittsburgh.

He also declined to second-guess the league’s decision not to fine or discipline Trouba after his left elbow appeared to make contact with Crosby in the face. Trouba was not penalized.

Crosby played briefly after the collision before leaving the ice for good, around the time the Rangers turned around the game with three goals in less than three minutes en route to a 5-3 victory. 

One of the best players in hockey history, Crosby had been having an outstanding series, with two goals and seven assists. His history of concussions raises concerns beyond his short-term status.

Trouba said after practice on Thursday that he was not concerned about the league disciplining him and was not even aware initially that it was his hit that injured Crosby.

“Tried going stick on puck when he was going to shoot, but the stick kind of went in between his legs and kind of hit his thigh and that kind of pushed my arm up,” Trouba said. “Kind of a fluky play. It wasn’t massively hard contact.”

Trouba said he had no intention of hurting Crosby and wished him a speedy recovery.

“A creative player like Sid, he does a lot of twisting and turning and spinning away from guys and Trouba went to play the puck and his elbow got up a little high on him," Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. "He wasn’t trying to hurt anybody.”

Trouba said he did not expect to be intimidated by a hostile welcome in Pittsburgh. “It’s OK,” he said. “It won’t be the first time.”

Said Gallant: “I don’t think it bothers him one bit.”

Crosby’s absence could be a huge boost for the Rangers, who have struggled to control him and his line — a defensive task that might be distracting the Rangers’ own top line, which has matched up against Crosby’s often.

Gallant said the Penguins have the luxury of inserting another star in Evgeni Malkin in Crosby’s place. But he acknowledged that not having to deal with Crosby could “open things up” offensively for his own stars, such as Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad.

The Rangers got some good injury news on Thursday when forward Tyler Motte returned to practice for the first time since suffering an injury on April 7. Gallant said he will be a game-time decision.

Motte would be a helpful addition in particular to the Rangers’ penalty-killing unit.

The Rangers need all the help they can get, still requiring two victories to advance. Game 7 would be Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

Not having to deal with Crosby could be another step in that direction.

“Obviously, he's an unbelievable player, and it's a massive part of their team,” Kreider said. “He's pretty instrumental on the ice for them.”

But the Penguins have other experienced, skilled players, who figure to rally around one another if their captain is down.

And the Penguins’ fans figure to rally around vilifying the visitor they hold responsible for the situation.

By Neil Best

neil.best@newsday.com@sportswatch

Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.