The Pittsburgh Penguins, winners of the Stanley Cup as recently as 2009, visit the Panthers on Friday night a vastly different team.

Superstar center Sidney Crosby hasn’t played since Dec. 5 after sustaining another concussion, and the Penguins have dropped six in a row after losing 1-0 in Washington on Wednesday.

The Penguins are also without top defenseman Kris Letang (concussion) and standout center Jordan Staal (knee). Pittsburgh has scored just six goals during its skid and would not make the playoffs if the season ended with the current positioning.

Of course, to the Panthers, that all makes the Penguins a very dangerous team. Coach Kevin Dineen is rightfully wary of All-Star center Evgeni Malkin and whatever Penguins are healthy.

“They are a dangerous team,” the Panthers coach said. “They are a little bit wounded, but that is an animal you have to be aware of.”

Dineen said he hopes Crosby — who is set to practice Friday but is not expected to play for a while — returns soon.

“As a fan myself, you want to see the top players,” Dineen said. “It’s an advantage for us strategically [that Crosby is out], but for the good of the game and our fans, I’d love to see him play.”

Goalie status

Panthers goalie Jose Theodore (knee) skated Thursday but is a “remote possibility” for Friday’s game.

Backup Scott Clemmensen is expected to start for the fifth time in the past six games.

General manager Dale Tallon said he is never satisfied, but he is happy with his team’s first half.

“Fifty points at the halfway point is a good position,” he said. “Our coaching staff has done a remarkable job with 13 new faces and a lot of injuries. Our guys have come up from the minors and helped us with seven forwards out of the lineup through most of this. It looks like we’re going to get healthy in the next couple weeks.”

• Panthers winger Scottie Upshall, who hasn’t played since Nov. 10, skated Thursday but has not yet been cleared for contact.