Sore groin benches Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby

PITTSBURGH - Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will miss at least one game due to a nagging groin injury.

Crosby, who is listed as day to day, cut short his participation in a morning practice and said he would not play in Wednesday night's game against the New York Islanders.

He suffered the injury in a game against the Washington Capitals last Sunday.

"Monday, it was pretty much the same but I was hoping it would go away," Crosby said. "There was only so much time to practise with the new coach so I tried to get through that. It was more sore (Tuesday). It just hasn't improved a whole lot."

It's uncertain how many games he will play during Pittsburgh's five-game road trip that begins Friday in Chicago. Crosby has missed only one previous game to injury this season.

He said he doesn't want to take any chances.

"Dealing with a groin is a little more serious," he said. "Everyone gets aches and pains, bumps and bruises and stuff like that. When you're dealing with a groin and you're not seeing it get a whole lot better it's kind of a red flag. You have to make sure you take care of that.

"It's never easy. I have to find a way to make sure I get back in there as soon as possible."

Coach Dan Bylsma said defenceman Ryan Whitney also won't play against the Islanders after leaving the team for personal reasons. He's expected to rejoin the Penguins in Chicago. Defenceman Kris Letang will return to the lineup after missing three games as a healthy scratch.