Centre Sidney Crosby’s return boosts Pittsburgh Penguins playoffs hopes-NHL News
The painful ordeal of Pittsburgh Penguins’ centre, Sidney Crosby, is set to be over this weekend when he will finally return from a concussion-like injury to join the squad on Sunday, March 11, 2012.
Crosby is out of the team since December 05, 2011, and he altogether has missed as many as 41 games of the current National Hockey League (NHL) regular season.
He joined the squad in practice on Tuesday and participated in full workout and drills, setting hopes of his return for the team’s weekend games.
Although he refrained from giving the exact date of his return, he is expected to join Penguins in their game against Boston Bruins on Sunday.
He said:
"No sooner than Sunday, I would say, but I'm not going to sit here and put a date on it. It would be total guesswork. I just want to make sure I get through these days fine."
The player is expected to participate in full skating sessions on Wednesday and Friday and will undergo full training and drill on Thursday and Saturday.
Penguins were playing against Bruins when Crosby got injured. During the physicals, he took several hits and was left with the concussion-like symptoms.
It was his first game after the return from the same injury in past 11 months, and unfortunately, he was forced out for another three months.
He has also been cleared for contact. He has hoped for things to go well for him and expressed his desire of sustaining on the ice for a longer period of time without suffering any such setback in the future.
The player added:
"Contact is the big step. It's nice to be symptom-free, but it's not as fulfilling as when you're out there (playing). I just want to make sure that I take the right steps here and get back out there soon."
Irrespective to his future concerns, the player’s return has certainly given a boost to the squad just ahead of the weekend’s game.
The team has taken every game very significant to the success of their playoffs hopes, and now with the centre back with them, they stand better chances for wins.
Penguins were desperate to hear positive news from the player’s front as they already are without another star, the defenseman, Kris Letang, who is also out of the side for second time in the present season and for similar injury, the concussion-like symptoms.
Crosby could play only eight games during the current season before leaving. With the possibility of his return on this Sunday, he has 15 more games to play before the playoffs.
The management has avoided the trade tenure to bring in his replacement, which shows that despite the lengthy recovery period, they were hopeful of his return this year.
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