Suddenly, the Penguins' all-star contingent can travel to the NHL's All-Star weekend in Columbus on a motorcycle.

Or a unicycle.

The team announced Thursday night that center Sidney Crosby will sit out the game Sunday at Nationwide Arena because of an undisclosed injury. NHL rules designed to prevent healthy players from skipping the game will oblige him to sit out the Penguins' game Tuesday against Winnipeg at Consol Energy Center, too.

A statement from the Penguins said Crosby has been playing with the injury and will need “about a week to heal.”

The Penguins will play Wednesday in Washington. Crosby's status for that game isn't known.

This is the fifth time Crosby has missed the NHL All-Star Game because of an injury. His only appearance was in 2007.

As of Thursday evening, Crosby was not scheduled to travel to Columbus to participate in off-ice all-star events.

Earlier in the day, the Penguins confirmed that center Evgeni Malkin will miss the game, too, also because of an undisclosed injury. His place will be taken by Nashville rookie Filip Forsberg.

With Crosby and Malkin out of the mix, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury will be the Penguins' only representative in the game. He was selected as a replacement player after two other goalies were hurt.

Malkin did not dress for the Penguins' 3-2 shootout loss Wednesday to Chicago.