Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Crosby cleared for practice, expected to skate with Pens tomorrow

Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chris Kunitz #14 of the Pittsburgh Penguins talk prior to a faceoff during the third period on February 28, 2013 at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (March 27, 2013 - Source: Vincent Pugliese/Getty Images North America)

There was another big development in Sidney Crosby’s return from a broken jaw on Thursday, as the Penguins captain received clearance to start practicing.

Here’s more, from Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Crosby, who has not played since his jaw was fractured by a deflected shot March 30, received clearance today to resume practicing with his teammates and is expected to do so Friday.

That is a significant step in his recovery, although no decision has been made on when he can try to play.

Crosby is expected to meet with the medical people overseeing his recovery again next week, at which time such a determination could be made.

Molinari reports Crosby “definitely” won’t play in Saturday’s regular-season finale against Carolina, but dressing for Game 1 of the playoffs has not been ruled out.

Also, Molinari writes that Pittsburgh will “almost certainly” open its postseason at home on Wednesday, May 1 (the playoff begin on Apr. 30).

That would give Crosby an additional day to prepare himself for a return to game action -- and every day of prep would be beneficial, given Crosby only resumed skating in mid-April.