[ad_1]
Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby is out for Game 6 against the New York Rangers, coach Mike Sullivan announced Friday.
Sources confirmed to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan that Crosby has a concussion. Given the nature of head injuries, those close to Crosby told Kaplan it’s unfair to speculate when he will return.
The Penguins lead the Rangers 3-2 in their opening-round series. Game 6 is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh.
Crosby suffered what the Penguins called an upper-body injury after taking a high hit from Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba in Wednesday night’s Game 5 loss. The captain left the Penguins bench in the second period and did not return. Sullivan said Crosby did skate Friday with skills coach Ty Hennes and added that the team captain is “in a good place.”
Center Evgeni Malkin skated in Crosby’s usual spot with wingers Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust during Friday’s practice. Center Evan Rodrigues, who has three points in five playoff games, moved up from the team’s fourth line to center Danton Heinen and Kasperi Kapanen, who had been skating with Malkin. Rodrigues also moved into Crosby’s spot on the Penguins’ top power-play unit, where he appeared in Game 5 after Crosby’s injury.
After the hit from Trouba, Crosby took two additional shifts before leaving the game. Crosby finished his last shift with 6:50 left in the second period and did not return.
The Rangers orchestrated a three-goal rally that erased a 2-0 Penguins lead and eventually won the game 5-3 to avoid elimination and force Game 6.
Asked if he felt Trouba had any intent to injure on the hit, Sullivan said, “Did you see the hit? You probably have the same opinion I do.”
On Thursday, the NHL opted against fining or suspending Trouba. A source told ESPN that the league’s department of player safety didn’t see any intent on the part of Trouba.
Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said he wasn’t concerned that Trouba would be suspended.
“As great a player as Sid is, he does a lot of twisting and turning and…
[ad_2]
Source : espn
