Contact OK for Crosby
SIDNEY CROSBY'S comeback from concussion-like symptoms took a major step forward yesterday when he was cleared for contact by team doctors for the first time since being injured last January.
SIDNEY CROSBY'S comeback from concussion-like symptoms took a major step forward yesterday when he was cleared for contact by team doctors for the first time since being injured last January.
Crosby wore a black helmet like the rest of his teammates during a morning skate prior to last night's game with Washington. The 24-year-old had been wearing a white helmet during workouts to indicate he wasn't to be touched. While there were no major collisions, the simple change in headgear is another positive sign that the sport's biggest star is close to returning.
"This is a good step in the right direction and we'll see how it goes the next little bit," he said.
How long that "next little bit" will last remains unclear. Crosby, as he's done for the last 10 months, refused to put a timetable on when he'll be ready to play.
In other Penguins news, they have come to terms on a 2-year contract extension with forward Chris Kunitz.
In last night's games *
At Pittsburgh, Dennis Wideman scored on a power play 2:48 into overtime to lift Washington over the Penguins, 3-2.
* At Newark, N.J., Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise scored shootout goals and New Jersey won its second straight game, beating Los Angeles, 2-1.
Devils goalie Martin Brodeur suffered a minor shoulder injury in the first period and was replaced by Johan Hedberg.
* At Uniondale, N.Y., John Tavares had two goals and two assists in the first period and the Islanders defeated Tampa Bay, 5-1.
* At Ottawa, Joakim Lindstrom scored twice and Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 15 saves in his first start for Colorado to help the Avalanche rout the Senators, 7-1.
* At Montreal, Miikka Kiprusoff got his team-record 263rd win and Rene Bourque scored twice, leading Calgary to a 4-1 win over the Canadiens.
* At Detroit, Jimmy Howard made 25 saves for his sixth career shutout and the Red Wings beat Vancouver, 2-0.
* At St. Paul, Minn., Devin Setoguchi scored in the fourth round of the shootout, leading the Wild over Edmonton, 2-1.
* At Nashville, David Schlemko, Ray Whitney and Lauri Korpikoski each scored in the first period, and Phoenix beat the Predators, 5-2.
* At Chicago, Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists to help the Blackhawks overcome a two-goal deficit in a 4-3 win over Winnipeg.
* At Dallas, Kari Lehtonen stopped 36 shots as the Stars edged St. Louis, 3-2.