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Crosby on trip, won't play tonight
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Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has been ruled out of the game tonight at Tampa Bay. Beyond that?
"Any speculation further away is not going to happen at this time," coach Dan Bylsma said Wednesday. "He will be with us on the trip."
The Penguins also will play Saturday at Florida before they have a three-game homestand next week.
Crosby has been out since Jan. 5 because of a concussion. He has been cleared for full contact for more than a month and continues to look strong and at ease in practice while he waits for clearance to play.
The Penguins Wednesday returned winger Eric Tangradi to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after the return Tuesday of winger Tyler Kennedy, who had missed 11 games because of a concussion.
The team also recalled winger Steve MacIntyre from his conditioning assignment with Wilkes-Barre, where he played four games. A day earlier, forward Dustin Jeffrey was recalled from a similar conditioning assignment, but he is off the ice for now because of lingering effects of April knee surgery.
MacIntyre and Jeffrey have remained on the team's roster, which sits at 22, one below the NHL maximum.
That means there is room for Crosby to come off of injured reserve at any time.
Fair game.
That is one way to describe the flock of fathers who watched practice at Consol Energy Center before accompanying players and staff members to Florida on the dads' trip for this season.
"We try to do most everything together," said winger Matt Cooke, who took his father-in-law. "The dads are completely fair game in any of our antics that go on. That makes it even more fun.
"The shoe check is one that happens every year."
That is where a volunteer surreptitiously crawls under the table at a team meal and smears a victim's shoes with a substance such as ketchup.
"I think it's fun for everybody -- for us, for them," goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury said. "You've got to keep your eyes open. You never know what can happen."
The Penguins are 2-0 on each of the past two dads' trips and 7-3 on such trips since general manager Ray Shero instituted them.
Many players and staff members are growing facial hair for "Movember" to raise awareness for men's health. Success has been mixed.
"It's interesting the different styles," Bylsma said. "You can go to one end with the Sidney Crosbys of the world who are still working to get significant growth. Matt Cooke looks like a totally different person with what he's got going on. And then we've got Steve Sullivan. [His moustache is] going to creep up on Lanny McDonald by the end of the month.
"It is interesting to see the different quality."
As for his own moustache, Bylsma said, "I'm not sure where mine lies. ... I don't feel comfortable looking at myself in the mirror."
Winger James Neal and defenseman Deryk Engelland were excused from practice for "maintenance days," Bylsma said, adding, "They will be with us again [today]." ... Backup goalie Brent Johnson is expected to start Saturday, partly so he can play on the dads' trip and partly because he has a better record against Florida (10-3-1, 2.28 goals-against average) than No. 1 goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (7-6, 3.01). ... The Penguins had scored three goals in seven games in a row, going 4-2-1, before their 6-3 win Tuesday against Colorado. ... Former Penguins power forward Ryan Malone, who has an unspecified injury, practiced Wednesday with Tampa Bay, but Lightning coach Guy Boucher said Malone has a "minimal" chance of playing tonight. ... Penguins defenseman Zbynek Michalek (broken finger) continues to skate with conditioning coach Mike Kadar.
First Published November 17, 2011 12:00 am
