Penguins star Crosby resumes skating
Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby skated with his teammates for the first time in more than a month on Friday but still has no idea when he'll be cleared to practice, let alone see action in a game.
Crosby skated for 27 minutes at the end of the Penguins morning skate before their game Friday night against the Florida Panthers. It was the first time he's been on the ice since developing concussion-like symptoms following a loss to Boston on Dec. 5.
''The symptoms are getting a lot better, but I wouldn't say (I'm) symptom free,'' Crosby said. ''But I'm allowed to lightly exert, and that's a positive.''
The 24-year-old Crosby suffered similar symptoms last January and missed more than 10 months.
The Penguins have struggled without their captain, losing six straight games over the last two weeks to fall into the bottom half of the Eastern Conference.
Doctors have cleared Crosby for ''light exertion,'' and he was clearly out of breath when he addressed reporters shortly after leaving the ice. While acknowledging skating is ''better than being on a bike'' there are restraints on what he can do.
Crosby joked with coach Dan Bylsma when he skated onto the ice, with the coach saying it was good to see Crosby with his teammates.
Though the injury-ravaged Penguins have looked dismal over the last few weeks, Crosby shot down any discussion that the silence surrounding his condition - he hadn't spoken to the media in a month - was causing a rift in the dressing room.
''I've been around hockey long enough to know this stuff goes on when you're losing,'' Crosby said. ''I don't think we'd be talking about it if we'd won five straight.''