Penguins’ Sidney Crosby diagnosed with concussion; Capitals’ Matt Niskanen not suspended for hit
Sidney Crosby takes a cross-check to the head from the Capitals鈥� Matt Niskanen during Game 3 on Monday night. Crosby was diagnosed with a concussion and will miss Game 4 tonight.
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby lays on the ground after being cross-checked by the Capitals' Matt Niskanen (2) during the first period of Game 3 in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
CRANBERRY TWP. 鈥� Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was diagnosed with a concussion following a cross-check by Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen in the opening minutes of Monday鈥檚 Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan confirmed the diagnosis after Tuesday鈥檚 practice.
鈥淗e will be out for (Wednesday鈥檚) game, and we will evaluate him day-to-day from then,鈥� Sullivan said. 鈥淗e will go through the protocols that we always put our guys through when they鈥檝e been diagnosed with a concussion.鈥�
Niskanen will not be suspended for his cross-check. The AP reported that Niskanen would not have a hearing with the NHL鈥檚 division of player safety. Niskanen was given a five-minute penalty and a game misconduct on the play.
Crosby was at practice Tuesday at the UPMC Lemieux 缅北禁地 Complex but did not participate in the optional skate. Crosby鈥檚 teammates are sympathetic for him, especially given his past history with concussions.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a tough moment, for sure,鈥� Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury said. 鈥淚 hope he feels better soon and I can see him smile again.鈥�
To that end, Crosby was apparently in good spirits after the diagnosis.
鈥淗e鈥檚 very upbeat and he鈥檚 very positive,鈥� Sullivan said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very optimistic and we鈥檙e hopeful that we鈥檒l get him back in a timely fashion.鈥�
After Game 3, Capitals coach Barry Trotz offered his opinion on that hit, defending his defenseman.
鈥淚 thought it really was a hockey play,鈥� Trotz said. 鈥�(Niskanen) just sort of ran into him.鈥�
Sullivan did not comment on the lack of suspension. Penguins winger Patric Hornqvist said he was not surprised by the NHL鈥檚 ruling, though did not explain why.
鈥淚鈥檓 not a ref, I play hockey,鈥� Hornqvist said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 part of the game. Sometimes players get hurt, and that鈥檚 what happened out there.鈥�
Penguins winger Carl Hagelin also would not comment on the lack of suspension after practice on Tuesday, but said, 鈥淚t looked like a dirty hit to me.鈥�
The Penguins recalled forwards Josh Archibald and Oskar Sundqvist from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL on Tuesday.