Penguins forward Sidney Crosby has been diagnosed with a concussion, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters Tuesday afternoon.
This is bad news for the game of hockey. It doesn’t matter who you root for.
Crosby suffered the injury on a controversial cross-check to the head by Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen in Game Three on Monday night. Crosby was sprawled out on the ice face down after the hit and appeared dazed when he got up. The 29-year-old superstar has a history on concussions dating back to the 2011 Winter Classic against the Capitals when he was hit by David Steckel, missing large stretches of time. Crosby missed the first six games of this season with yet another head injury.
“He will go through the protocols we always put our guys through when they’ve been diagnosed with a concussion,” Sullivan said of Crosby. “The nature of these things as that they’re all very different. Sometimes they come around quickly, other times they don’t.”
Tuesday morning it was reported that the Department of Player Safety would not discipline Niskanen, who received a five-minute major and game misconduct on the play.
Forward Conor Sheary also suffered a concussion, Sullivan said. Sheary collided with teammate Patric Hornqvist when Hornqvist attempted to check Caps forward Lars Eller.
Crosby will miss Game Four on Wednesday night. He will be considered day-to-day after that according to Sullivan.
“He’s very upbeat and he’s very positive,” Sullivan added. “We’re very optimistic and we’re hopeful we’ll get him back in a timely fashion.”
Headline photo: Gregory Shamus
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