Crosby not yet at the strenuous skating, off-ice workout stage

LATEST INJURY BUZZ

Sidney Crosby (broken jaw) took a positive step in going through a light skate on Monday in full equipment with a protective jaw shield.

While Crosby skating 16 days after breaking his jaw is good news, Crosby’s timetable for a return remains up in the air and the Penguins captain is not yet at the strenuous stage of on ice and off ice workouts.

“I would say a foot in the water,” Bylsma said of Crosby’s skate. “I didn’t go out there and see how hard he did go, but I know he was just out for basically a skate. He got out there for a little bit of exercise and to get on the ice.”

Crosby’s return isn’t imminent to the lineup as in playing in the next seven to 10 days and team sources say an exact timetable hasn’t been established just yet as screws surgically placed in Crosby’s jaw have to be properly set and healed for Crosby to begin taking contact.

As for winger James Neal, the Penguins are not revealing a timetable for Neal but the Penguins winger could see himself return to the lineup at somepoint this week. Neal who suffered a concussion vs the Rangers on April 5th, is symptom free, according to the team.

Defenseman Paul Martin remains on his four to six week timetable with a broken bone in his hand after surgery on March 31st and with having a hand injury, Martin is permitted to skate and has been doing so for a week now, which helps him to stay in shape for when he’s cleared to return to the lineup in 2-4 weeks.

“I think his skating will be able to be at full speed as he progresses with the injury,” Bylsma said of Martin “For him it’s just a matter of going through the time period and the healing process.”

The regular season ends on April 27 and the playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 30/May 1.

Center Evgeni Malkin practiced on Monday is likely to be a coaches decision to play Wednesday night against the Montreal Canadiens. “I feel good,” Malkin said after Monday’s practice. “We have a couple days off and skate today and I have little bit of injury, but we still have time until the next game.”