Pittsburgh Penguins confirm Sidney Crosby’s availability for New York Rangers game-NHL News
Pittsburgh Penguins’ centre, Sidney Crosby, is due to return to the team on Thursday, March 15, 2012, when they play against New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
It will be first game for Penguins’ star player since December 05, 2011, when he was forced out of the side due to concussion-like symptoms. More or less, the injury has remained a consistent problem for the player over the last two years.
Now, his return is set to give a competitive edge to the team’s playoff race. The second round of the league has recently become a hard run for all those teams who are emerging as its clearer contenders.
Penguins need to win almost all remaining games of the season to make their playoffs chance hundred per cent.
Crosby, who had assumed the status of a super star before being hit by the successive injury problems, will be playing his first in last 41 games. He is hoping to quickly regain his previous fitness and form.
He said:
"I probably feel a little bit better just knowing what to expect. I think it's easier going through it this time. I know what to expect. That first game was pretty overwhelming. It was a lot of fun, but that being said I'll take it more in stride this time
and make sure I'm getting better with every game."
Crosby was referring to his last comeback that had happened in the game against the New York Islanders on November 21, 2011, after the absence of more than ten months.
He was able to score two goals and four points then, and is confident of performing even better this time.
Crosby, during his last comeback, managed to play about eight games before reporting reoccurrence of the concussion-like symptoms. The problem included successive spells of headaches and related complications.
Unfortunately, the player has missed as many as 61 games this season and 102 over past two seasons.
The concussion issue has made his fitness and game participation inconsistent. He now hopes not to suffer the problem again, which could further cost him the career. Also, his absence will be equally disappointing for the team.
Penguins are cautious to expect too much from him during the first appearance even though the player is skating hard regularly before showing up for practice with the teammates during last two/three sessions.
The coach, Dan Bylsma, said:
"I think it's unrealistic that he's going to step into Madison Square Garden and be the only show on the ice. I know how fast he is going to go. I know what's going to happen when he has the puck with speed.”
In any case, both the player and team officials have remained upbeat about his performance at the practice, and hope for a similar form in the remaining games of the season.
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