Crosby tests positive for COVID-19, out for Penguins for at least 10 days
Sullivan also out, Letang returns against Flyers
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By
Wes Crosby
NHL.com Independent Correspondent
Coach Mike Sullivan also was available against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday because of COVID-related protocols. Assistant Todd Reirden filled in.
Crosby was placed in NHL COVID-19 protocol Wednesday. Because he has experienced mild symptoms, the earliest he can return to the Pittsburgh lineup is Nov. 13 at the Ottawa Senators, meaning he would be out four games.
Crosby made his season debut Saturday after missing the first seven games following offseason wrist surgery. The Penguins captain had two shots on goal and two hits in 19:16 in a 4-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils.
"I'm sure he is discouraged," Sullivan said Wednesday. "He's worked extremely hard to get to this point. We were all so excited about getting him back in the lineup, to get him back in the fold. This just puts another roadblock in front of it. But we'll control what we can here. We've got capable people. We're hopeful that Sid will return soon."
Defenseman Brian Dumoulin entered protocol Wednesday after testing positive. Crosby and Dumoulin did not practice following a scheduled day off for the Penguins on Tuesday. Each practiced Monday.
"I haven't had an opportunity to talk to Sid because it happened so quickly this morning," Sullivan said. "I never had a chance to see him this morning, but I'll call him this afternoon to check in with him."
Crosby and Dumoulin, who is asymptomatic, joined defensemen Chad Ruhwedel and Marcus Pettersson in COVID-19 protocol for the Penguins, who have had eight players in protocol this season.
Forward Jake Guentzel returned after missing the first game of the regular season Oct. 12, and forward Zach Aston-Reese was out the first two games. Center Jeff Carter was sidelined three games before returning when Crosby made his debut Saturday. Ruhwedel and Pettersson entered protocol Sunday.
Defenseman
Kris Letang
, who practiced for the first time Wednesday since entering protocol Oct. 23, played Thursday. He is the most recent player to return after being cleared Monday. Letang, who was symptomatic, missed four games.
"I thought he had a good practice today," Sullivan said Wednesday. "He skated yesterday. He did skate the day before as well. So he had two days on the ice before this practice. I thought he had a good practice today. We'll visit with the medical team and with Kris and see how he responds and make a decision tomorrow on whether or not he plays."
Dumoulin is usually on the top defense pair with Letang, who was with Mike Matheson in practice. Letang skated on his own after practice Monday and again during the day off Tuesday.
"Monday and Tuesday were pretty hard," Letang said. "Obviously, it was tough. First four days, you can't even do anything because you're so tired and you have all the symptoms. The last five days, I wish I could have exercised, but per protocol, I had to wait and get all my screening done.
"As soon as you step on the ice, you feel it in the lungs. The fact that I coughed a lot during those days probably didn't help either. But I felt like yesterday, I cleared up all the bad stuff inside me and today, I felt really good."
Carter replaced Crosby at first-line center Wednesday, skating with Guentzel and right wing Danton Heinen.
Forwards
Evgeni Malkin
and Bryan Rust are not available because of injury. Malkin, usually the second-line center, is expected to be out until at least December after having knee surgery June 4; Rust, usually the first-line right wing, wore a no-contact jersey in his first full practice Wednesday since sustaining a lower-body injury Oct. 14.
After Guentzel and Aston-Reese tested positive for COVID-19, the Penguins began testing players and staff daily.
"It's tough," Sullivan said Wednesday. "I'm not going to lie. We are trying to do all the right things. We do have a discussion, if not daily, a few times a week about it. I know our players and our staff, we're all trying to do the right things as far as mitigating the risk.
"Our team has taken on more responsibility just with testing and things of that nature to try to do the right thing and identify a case when it pops up. … I know how disciplined our group is. I feel, as an organization, we're trying to do everything we can to mitigate the risk, and yet, we're still getting it."
