Doctors Clear Crosby to Practice With Penguins

After taking a thunderous slapshot square to the jaw in a game on March 30, Sidney Crosby looked like he was down for the count. Doubts were raised about his ability to return to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup; after all, a fractured jaw takes time to mend. But now Crosby has practiced after getting medical clearance to do so, and he could be back on the ice as soon as the start of the playoffs.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. Obviously Crosby, being the captain of the team and the player he is, wants to get back into the battle as soon as possible — even if that means playing hurt. While I’m no doctor, it’s not likely that Crosby is at 100 percent despite the nod from the team’s doctors to practice.

Sid the Kid is set to meet again with medical advisors next week to see when he can tolerate full contact. Regardless of what’s determined, he will be wearing some kind of guard to protect the jaw. He will definitely not suit up for the team’s final game against Carolina on Saturday.

“[Returning] is not really up to me,” Crosby said. “I’ll just keep talking with the doctors. It’s something they have to feel comfortable with the healing. As soon as they say the word, I’ll be ready to go.”

When he does take his place in the lineup again, he could be centering a trio featuring newest Penguin Jarome Iginla and Pascal Dupuis. Until he can do so, Pittsburgh head coach Dan Bylsma has inserted another trade-deadline acquisition, Jussi Jokinen, between Iginla and Dupuis.

Crosby has been back since the incident, but not in a full-fledged practice situation. “I would say a foot in the water,” is how Bylsma characterized Crosby’s skate on April 15. “I didn’t go out there and see how hard he did go, but I know he was just out for basically a skate. He got out there for a little bit of exercise and to get on the ice.”

While no one would ever say it publicly, the Pens look like they do need Crosby back on the case as soon as possible. They lost to the Sabres 4-2 at home on Tuesday and 3-2 in New Jersey on Thursday, so they need all hands on deck — that includes the captain, especially one who could be a potential Hart Trophy candidate despite all the time he’s missed.