On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins claimed a rollicking 4-3 shootout win against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario that was vital to their hopes of reaching the postseason.

But they lost arguably their most vital component to that endeavor as forward Sidney Crosby left the contest prematurely due to an undisclosed injury.

After recording a single shift in the second period, Crosby left the contest after the 19:22 mark of the second frame. Speaking with reporters in Ottawa following the game, Muse did not provide a substantive update on Crosby’s status other than stating further evaluation was required.

Any prolonged absence by Crosby would clearly impede the Penguins, who were already playing without the services of injured forwards Evgeni Malkin and Blake Lizotte.

“It’s not something you want to see,” Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson said via audio provided by the team’s media relations staff. “Hopefully, he’s fine.”

Shootout goals by forwards Egor Chinakhov and Ben Kindel were the difference in Thursday’s result as the Penguins improved to 3-10 in shootouts this season.

“Obviously, it’s a big win,” said Kindel, a rookie. “The standings are getting a little tight.”

With the win, the Penguins (36-20-16, 88 points) moved into second place in the Metropolitan Division, inching ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets (38-23-11, 87 points).

Goaltender Stuart Skinner made 26 saves on 29 shots in regulation and overtime, then allowed only one goal on three attempts in the shootout as his record improved to 21-14-9.

Senators forward Drake Batherson opened the scoring 4:28 into regulation, finding his 28th goal of the season during a power-play sequence.

Accepting a pass low on the right wing of the offensive zone, Senators forward Brady Tkachuk maneuvered toward the net and slid the puck through the crease between Skinner and Penguins defenseman Sam Girard. From below the opposite circle, Batherson fired a forehand shot on the near side past a sluggish Skinner. Tkachuk and forward Tim Stutzle had assists.

The Penguins responded at 13:46 of the opening frame via forward Rickard Rakell’s 16th goal.

From behind his own net, Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven tried to bank a stretch pass off the right wing wall, only to have it intercepted at the point by Karlsson. Chugging up to the near half-wall, Karlsson slid the pass to the high slot where a ready Rakell raised his stick and raked a one-timer that roasted goaltender Linus Ullmark’s blocker. Karlsson collected the only assist.

Senators forward Nick Cousins restored a lead for his team 110 seconds into the second period with his ninth goal.

Making amends for his earlier error, Kleven fired a successful stretch pass from near his own right corner. Taking in the offering, Cousins coasted into the Penguins zone, generating something of a two-on-one with linemate Michael Amadio against Girard. Cousins tried to force a pass to the top of the crease but struck Girard’s right skate instead. As Skinner slid to his left to defend a potential shot by Amadio, the rebound took a dull carom toward the left post, where an opportunistic Cousins gently tapped in a backhander from almost behind the cage. Kleven and Ullmark underwrote assists.

Karlsson continued to offer elevated play and tied the game again with his 12th goal less than two minutes later at the 3:45 mark.

Corralling a loose puck on the left half-wall of the offensive zone, Rakell danced through stick checks from former Penguins forward Lars Eller and Amadio, then fed a pass across the ice to Karlsson. Advancing into the right circle, Karlsson gripped and ripped a wrister past Ullmark’s blocker on the far side. Kindel, absorbing some of Crosby’s duties as the top-line center, provided a screen on the sequence. Rakell and Kindel claimed assists.

Rakell supplied the Penguins with their first lead of the contest by scoring on a five-on-three power-play scenario 103 seconds into the third period.

Penguins forward Noel Acciari, getting a rare shift on the power play in Crosby’s absence, won a draw in Ottawa’s right circle against Senators forward Ridly Greig. That allowed Rust to tap the puck toward the near point for Karlsson. Surveying his options for a moment, Karlsson slid a pass toward the left dot, and Rakell smacked the tar out of a one-timer, beating Ullmark on the near side. Karlsson and Rust recorded assists.

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Batherson matched Rakell with his second goal of the contest at 3:58 of the third period.

Following a faceoff win by Senators forward Claude Giroux in Pittsburgh’s right circle against Penguins forward Tommy Novak, Senators defenseman Jordan Spence settled the puck at the near point, then fed a pass to the right half-wall for Stutzle. Turning toward the cage, Stutzle snapped a heavy wrister toward the cage, which Skinner knocked down with his blocker. The rebound plopped loose on the left side of the crease where Batherson easily swept in a forehand shot past Skinner’s right skate. Stutzle and Spence secured assists.

The Penguins issued yet another coach’s challenge for goaltender interference that wound up being unsuccessful. They have failed on all nine challenges they have issued for goaltender interference this season.

In the shootout, Rakell failed to convert on his opportunity while Chinakhov and Kindel converted.

For Ottawa, Batherson scored the Senators’ lone shootout goal while Stutzle and forward Shane Pinto came up empty.

Notes:

• Penguins forward Anthony Mantha was in the lineup a day after being withheld from practice in Cranberry due to an undisclosed injury. Mantha has yet to miss a game this season.

• Rakell (219 points) surpassed forward Randy Cunneyworth (216 points) to move into 41st place on the franchise’s career scoring list.

• Karlsson (166 points) surpassed forward Phil Bourque (164 points) for 57th place on the franchise’s career scoring list.

• Skinner (10-6-5) surpassed Thomas Greiss (9-6-3) for 38th place on the franchise’s career goaltending wins list.

• Malkin, Lizotte and Penguins forward Kevin Hayes were scratched due to undisclosed injuries.

• Penguins defensemen Ilya Solovyov and Ryan Graves, as well as forwards Avery Hayes and Joona Koppanen, were healthy scratches.

• Ullmark was the first goaltender to record an assist against the Penguins this season.

• Stutzle’s first assist was his 400th career point.