Superstar Sidney Crosby was held out of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday.
Crosby has been nursing an undisclosed injury over the last week.
HOCKEY TIME!
Stream: https://t.co/xZgoUZ5hE8 pic.twitter.com/pOZwHWWWX0
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 25, 2020
The Penguins first announced Crosby would not play in a tweet where they published the lineups for each team.
Instead of participating, Crosby did work by himself on the Penguins’ second rink.
Meanwhile, Sidney Crosby is still on the second rink working on one-timers. He was out there when I was permitted to enter the building. So he's been working at least 55 minutes. #Pens
— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) July 25, 2020
There goes Sidney Crosby. He was on the second rink for at least one hour and five minutes. #Pens pic.twitter.com/c86M49PbCN
— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) July 25, 2020
When asked, Penguins’ head coach Mike Sullivan had no comment on Crosby’s injury.
Sullivan said he cannot comment on Crosby's status. He also said they will not say how the goalies will be used in the exhibition until they get to Toronto. #Pens
— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) July 25, 2020
Crosby did speak, however, with reporters after practice in a Zoom call. Crosby said he hopes to practice Monday and play in the team’s exhibition against the Philadelphia Flyers, but he can’t say for sure.
Crosby: "Things are moving in the right direction."
More from the captain: https://t.co/V6TnMh6rXH pic.twitter.com/7N3rTvcWje
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 25, 2020
“Things are moving in the right direction,” Crosby said. “Monday’s kind of the soonest getting out with the team. I’m hoping I can skate with the team Monday and take it from there. Ideally, I’d be able to play in that (exhibition) game, but if not, we’ll just go a day at a time from there.
“Ideally I would’ve liked to get in a little more of the scrimmages and game situation things,” he added. “But with that being said, I think the fact that I’ve been able to skate (on my own) for a good chunk of time will help getting through that.”
Crosby initially suffered his injury on July 18 during a previous intrasquad scrimmage, leaving mid-game. The Penguins captain returned to practice on July 24, receiving stick taps from his teammates.
Today is a good day. A very, very good day. pic.twitter.com/dYN75dEaJe
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 24, 2020
“I felt pretty good,” Crosby said. “I had skated on my own on the other side for a good amount of time. It was just good to get out there with the guys and have a little bit more game situation stuff going on.”
Crosby having a long conversation with Sullivan after practice. I believe he did the same following his most recent practice (not scrimmage) last Friday. #Pens pic.twitter.com/8Ybt8Nj43p
— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) July 24, 2020
The Penguins will leave for their bubble in Toronto this weekend. They will share a hotel, Hotel X, with the Washington Capitals and several other teams.
Screenshot courtesy of @penguins
