When will Crosby play?

Most Pens fans have been wondering this week, ok really for months now, when Sidney Crosby would return to the lineup. Suspicion has grown recently because the Pens have had long breaks between games recently and that meant full practices with opportunity for Crosby to take contact. Well, those practices have been taking place and Crosby has taken contact. However, we still don’t know when Crosby will be back in uniform for a game.
Many fans and media outlets have had this Friday’s home game against the Dallas Stars circled on their calendars for Crosby’s likely return. The reasons… first, he’s had those practices with contact and no setbacks or side effects have been reported. For us, that would most likely indicate that he is ready to go. Though, one should not rush recovery from a concussion. Some also believe that this Friday’s date, 11-11-11, would make a great return date and the fact that the game is home is even more of a sign to point to Crosby returning.
While I was thinking Crosby would return this Friday also for some time, now I am not so sure. Every time he has been asked this week, Crosby has been spreading skepticism about playing Friday night. He has been saying he had not planned on it and that he has no date that his is looking at to return. (Also, the significance of the date will not factor into his decision of playing or not he says). The coaches and Pens’ reps have not led anyone to believe of a Friday return either.
That leaves us with two options: Crosby plays Friday night or he doesn’t. I am sure Crosby has not been lying in all those answers he has been giving all week. A concussion is not like other injuries and one never can be sure when one of those symptoms can present itself once again. So, Crosby most likely does not have a date in his mind to return and if he does, he would not share it with the media. A return is likely sooner rather than later though and it is this reason alone that could point to Crosby playing Friday. Surely, no one, not Crosby or the Pens, want anyone looking forward to a designated game that Crosby will play if there is still a chance he will not be able to. Therefore, they may have to dissuade people looking at a certain game on the calendar to not get everyone’s hopes up and have them crashing down. One thing is certain though, in order for Crosby to play Friday he would have to taken off the Injured Reserve list by 5:00p.m. this Friday. So, that date is still circled on everyone’s calendar, but who knows if it will be Crosby’s return or just a date that doesn’t come around too often, 11-11-11.