After tonight’s 2-1 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens, Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma admitted that superstar center Sidney Crosby missed the game with a concussion.
↵It’s unknown when exactly Crosby suffered the injury. At the end of the second period of the Winter Classic, David Steckel of the Washington Capitals collided with Crosby. Crosby would return for the 3rd period and also was able to practice on Monday and play on Tuesday versus the Tampa Bay Lightning.
↵In the Lightning game Crosby was boarded by Tampa defenseman Victor Hedman in the second period. Hedman was whistled for a minor penalty on the play, which sent Crosby’s head into the glass and put him in pain.
↵Despite the hit, Crosby continued to play in the third period and skated about six minutes of playing time after the incident.
↵Crosby flew with the Penguins to Montreal after the Tampa game, but returned home to Pittsburgh to see doctors. It is believed that his injury is minor, and may keep him out of the lineup for as little as a week. Concussions can be tricky with uncertain symptoms, so expect the Penguins to be very cautious with their star center and wait for him to be 100 percent before he returns to the lineup.