Pittsburgh Penguins

Crosby's head injury history causes concern

Pittsburgh Penguins NHL hockey player Sidney Crosby takes a slap shot during a practice session in Cranberry, Pa.

PITTSBURGH — The injury Monday night to Penguins center Sidney Crosby brought great concern to the Penguins and to the fans, in part because of Crosby’s history of head injuries.

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The Penguins said they wouldn’t comment on Crosby’s injury until after the game, but Crosby was hit in the head, and also landed awkwardly on his knee after he was hit by Capitals’ defenseman Matt Niskanen.

Crosby’s history with head injuries and concussions started against the same Washington Capitals at the Winter Classic in January 2011.   Crosby was drilled in the head by Matt Steckel during the game, but was later cleared.

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In the next game the Penguins played that season, Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman crushed Crosby into the boards, where he hit is head again.  After that, Crosby started experiencing concussion symptoms that would have him miss the better part of the next two seasons.

Crosby did not return in the 2010-11 season.  He returned on November 21, 2011, but only played a few games before his symptoms returned.  He would miss another 40 games after that, finally returning to action for good in the middle of March, 2012.

Crosby also suffered a concussion at the beginning of this season.  The concussion happened during a practice in the preseason.  Crosby missed the first six games of the season before debuting on Oct. 25.