Penguins' Sidney Crosby sidelined at least 4 weeks with lower-body injury

The Pittsburgh Penguins placed Sidney Crosby on injured reserve Wednesday after the Canadian captain missed Sunday's Olympic gold-medal game with a lower-body injury.

The veteran centre will be out at least four weeks, the NHL team said.

Crosby sat out Canada's 2-1 overtime loss to the United States in Milan, saying he couldn't play "without compromising the team."

The 38-year-old was hurt in the quarterfinals when his leg bent awkwardly on a hit from Czechia defenceman Radko Gudas.

He watched the final from the trainer's room before joining teammates for the medal ceremony.

The IR move means Crosby will miss at least seven days from the date of injury.

The Penguins also activated defenceman Kris Letang from injured reserve.