The Penguins will be without both Sidney Crosby and Conor Sheary for game four of their series against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night due to both having suffered concussions. Coach Mike Sullivan announced this during his press conference after today’s optional skate for the Penguins.
Crosby was hurt early in the first period when he was cross-checked to the head by Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen. It looked like he was going down anyway but Niskanen got his stick on Crosby’s head which caused him the concussion. Here’s the full video of the play.
Another look at the Crosby injury. Ovechkin also got him with the stick up high & took out his leg just prior to the Niskanen hit pic.twitter.com/Z0TAbKJXyv
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 2, 2017
Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby and Conor Sheary Out With Concussions
Crosby was at the facility this morning and Sullivan said (via Sam Werner) that, “He’s very upbeat, he’s very positive. We’re very optimistic and hopeful we’ll get him back in a timely manner.”
Sheary was also diagnosed with a concussion last night after Patric Hornqvist accidently hit him as he was trying to hit Lars Eller. Here’s the GIF of it:
Friendly fire pic.twitter.com/xyM6leyztE
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 2, 2017
This is Sheary’s first concussion but this is the third concussion Crosby has suffered over his career as he had one at the beginning of the season and the one back in 2011. He missed over a year after the concussion in 2011 because it was so bad and then missed the first seven games of the past regular season.
The Penguins will be forced to rely on Evgeni Malkin a lot during game four as he averages over a point per game with Crosby out of the lineup.
Sheary did skate on his own before the optional practice for the Penguins this morning so that is a step in the right direction for him. Despite not having both Crosby and Sheary, the Penguins will have the opportunity to go up three games to one on the Capitals tomorrow night as it will start at 7:30. Game five of the series will be back in Washington on Saturday night with puck drop at 7:15.
Main Photo: PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 04: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins handles the puck in front of Dmitry Orlov #9 of the Washington Capitals in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Consol Energy Center on May 4, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
