Sidney Crosby will sit out the Penguins' exhibition game against Washington at Mellon Arena tomorrow night.

Not because he is injured -- he is quite healthy -- but because the Penguins do not want to risk using him too much during the preseason.

Crosby played in games in Halifax and Moncton Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, and is expected to be in uniform when the Penguins face Buffalo in Hamilton, Ontario Saturday evening. It is not known if the Penguins are contractually obliged to use him against the Sabres.

General manager Ray Shero said the plan to sit Crosby tonight was formulated well before exhibition play began, and that it is a matter of judgment rather than any league rule.

He added that the Penguins had intended to have Evgeni Malkin and Mark Recchi, both of whom were injured Wednesday, in the lineup against the Capitals. Even without those two, he said, the Penguins play to dress a strong lineup that will include No. 1 draft choice Jordan Staal and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

Also, the Penguins assigned five players to their American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre today.

They are forwards Dennis Bonvie and Joe Jensen, defensemen Ryan Lannon and Michal Sersen and goaltender Andrew Penner.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.