Monday Practice Report: Crosby returns to practice; Asham out

Pittsburgh Penguins star center Sidney Crosby returned to practice this morning. Crosby is skating extremely well after sitting out the past two days with a hip flexor.

Defenseman Brooks Orpik is skating for the first time since last Tuesday. Orpik has been sidelined with a groin injury and looks fine on the ice.

Winger Arron Asham is out with a shoulder injury. Indications are the extent of the injury are still not known. Source close to Asham told me on Sunday that the veteran forward was scheduled to be re-evaluated by team doctors on Monday.

Kunitz – Crosby – Dupuis

Tangradi – Comrie – Malkin

Cooke – Letestu – Kennedy

Rupp – Talbot – Adams/Godard

D-Pairs

Orpik – Michalek

Martin – Letang

Goligoski – Lovejoy

Hutchinson – Engelland

Simon Despres has been working in as the extra defenseman in drills.

Ben Lovejoy started out practice working extensively with Alex Goligoski for the first half of drills. As practice is progressing, Despres, Engelland and Hutchinson have been moving into the rotation with Goligoski.

Full Update to come