After missing Pittsburgh’s first three exhibition games, captain Sidney Crosby will make his preseason debut -- along with winger Chris Kunitz -- when the Pens take on Columbus this Saturday.
Crosby has been limited since the start of camp due to an undisclosed injury suffered while prepping for the preseason. This summer, the 27-year-old opted not to have surgery on his ailing wrist, opting to let the injury heal via rest and rehabilitation. The Penguins did not say if the latest injury was related to the wrist.
Kunitz, 35, has also been held out mostly for precautionary measures. Like Crosby’s ailment, Kunitz’s health issues were undisclosed -- but he did say he’s more than ready to get back on the ice.
“Any time you miss, you’re behind,” he told the Penguins website. “For the guys that play the games, everything’s kind of slowing down, it doesn’t feel so fast for them. They’re doing those 5-on-5’s and in-zone, it feels like a lot of guys in there right now. So got to make sure you work hard in practice and try to pick that speed up quick.”
While it’s only a preseason game, Saturday’s could be worth watching as its the first time Crosby and Kunitz will play under new head coach Mike Johnston.