The long road back from a concussion Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby suffered nearly a year ago continues. Penguins coach Dan Bylsma told the media Wednesday that his star player "is doing light exercises" but is still suffering from "post-concussion symptoms," according to NHL.com.

Crosby first got the concussion on Jan. 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He didn't return to the ice until Nov. 21, when the Penguins blanked the New York Islanders, 5-0, behind two goals and two assists from Crosby. He appeared in all of the Pens' next seven games, but has yet to play since. NHL.com notes in his last game, a Dec. 5 outing against the Boston Bruins, Crosby "absorbed multiple hard hits," contributing to this setback.

At 21-11-4 for 46 points, Pittsburgh is tied with the Philadelphia Flyers for No. 2 in the Eastern Conference; coincidentally, those two teams are set to battle Thursday evening. Evgeni Malkin's 42 points ranks No. 2 in the NHL, while James Neal's 21 goals are good for No. 3. The emergence of those two players has kept Pittsburgh in contention despite Crosby's prolonged absence.

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