As has been the case for most of the past two weeks, Sidney Crosby did not participate in the Penguins’ practice in Cranberry on Tuesday.
Rehabilitation from surgery to correct a core muscle injury has sidelined the Penguins’ captain. The team announced he will be sidelined a minimum of six weeks following his surgery on Nov. 14. If that estimate holds true, he could potentially return to the lineup on Dec. 27 when the Penguins travel to Nashville to take on the Predators.
Coach Mike Sullivan did not offer many details on his recovery on Tuesday.
“I’d rather not get into specifics of where he’s at but what I can tell you is he’s in a rehab process,” Sullivan said. “He’s in a recovery process. It’s a daily endeavor for him. We’ll just trust that process.”
Given the nature of the injury, Crosby’s ability to skate, even moderately, is considerably hindered at the moment.
“Obviously, there are going to be some restrictions. But I think our guys have a pretty good grasp on what they can and can not do.”
By Sullivan’s account, Crosby has handled his convolesecence with good spirits.
“Really good, really good,” Sullivan said. “He’s been around the team. Obviously, it’s hard for any player, especially him in particular, that loves to be on the ice. But under the cirumstance, he’s in real good spirits.”
Notes:
• The Penguins had a few changes to their lines and defensive pairings in practice.
Forward Dominik Simon was moved from center on the third line to right wing on the fourth line. He essentially flipped spots with rookie Sam Lafferty.
Additionally, defenseman Zach Trotman was bumped from the right side of the third defensive pairing and replaced by Chad Ruhwedel.
Jake Guentzel – Evgeni Malkin – Bryan Rust
Alex Galchenyuk – Jared McCann - Brandon Tanev
Dominik Kahun – Sam Lafferty – Patric Hornqvist
Zach Aston-Reese – Teddy Blueger – Dominik Simon
Brian Dumoulin – Kris Letang
Jack Johnson – John Marino
Marcus Pettersson – Chad Ruhwedel
Juuso Riikola – Zach Trotman
• As was the case on Sunday, coaches worked extensively on faceoffs towards the end of practice with Blueger, Lafferty, McCann, Malkin and Simon.
The Penguins are still working on those pesky faceoffs: pic.twitter.com/rZzXqOuO6j
— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) November 26, 2019
