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Sidney Crosby is ready to hit the ice again. The Pittsburgh Penguins superstar is expected to return Wednesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes after being sidelined since his Olympic injury with Team Canada.

It’s huge news for the Pens, who are locked in a tight playoff race. They’re just seven points behind Carolina in the Metropolitan Division and trying to hold off Boston and Detroit for a Wild Card spot.

The 38-year-old captain has been having quite a year. In 56 games this season – his 21st with Pittsburgh – Crosby has put up 27 goals and 32 assists for 59 points.

What’s really interesting is that this might not be Crosby’s final chapter in Pittsburgh.

“Given how good this team could become in the next few years, there is a belief within the organization that he might stick around for a while,” reports Josh Yohe of The Athletic.

The idea of Crosby playing into his 40s isn’t as crazy as it might sound. He’s still performing at an elite level, and the team’s success seems to have put an extra spring in his step.

“He’s been in a noticeably good mood all season, presumably because the Penguins are winning, which is all he wants,” Yohe added.

Crosby’s already cemented his place in NHL history. His 652 career goals rank 15th all-time, making him one of just 22 players to score more than 600 goals in NHL history.

The timing of his return couldn’t be better for Pittsburgh. With the playoff race heating up and every point crucial, having their captain back on the ice gives the Penguins a massive boost as they head into the final stretch of the season.