Pittsburgh Penguins captain and reigning Hart Trophy winner Sidney Crosby left Friday’s contest with a high-ankle sprain versus Tampa Bay.  He carried the puck into the offensive zone, fell to the ice due to a slash by Tampa Bay defenseman Paul Ranger, and collided feet-first with the end boards, unable to protect himself.  The similar injury sidelined teammate and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury for over a month and possibly longer.

We do not have official reports yet and are awaiting word from team officials regarding Crosby's condition.  If Crosby is placed on IR,that would be heart-breaking news to the Penguins, who are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and will suffer dearly without him in the lineup.

Crosby entered the contest with a league-leading 43 assists and tied for the NHL lead with 63 points.

He will also likely miss the All-Star game next Sunday afternoon regardless of the diagnosis, considering his health and importance to the team’s success.

This is a huge disappointment to league officials, who were counting on Crosby’s appeal to the masses, considering the Winter Classic’s productive ratings.

Without Crosby for the last 47 minutes of play, the Penguins were blanked by the Lightning 3-0, for only the second time this season and the first time in exactly one month.  On Dec. 18, the New York Rangers shut them out 4-0.

“Crosby will be re-evaluated Saturday, and it is not known if he will accompany the Penguins for their game in Montreal Saturday night,” said Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

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