Mark Madden on Sidney Crosby's status: ‘Since they won’t tell us, I assume there is potential worry’
As the Penguins head to the Toronto hub for the NHL playoffs, two major questions hang over the franchise.
How healthy, really, is Sidney Crosby? And who will be the starting goaltender?
Well, who will be the starting goaltender by the end of the postseason, at least?
Mark Madden and I try to answer both topics in this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast.
Crosby didn’t participate during the final team scrimmage in Cranberry last week. The Penguins star center is hoping to practice with the team Monday in Toronto and is optimistic about playing in the warmup game Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
“Monday’s kind of the soonest I guess as far as (practicing) with the team,” Crosby said. “I’m hoping that I can skate with the team on Monday and just take it from there. Ideally, I’d be able to play in that game. If not, just kind of go a day at a time from there. But I’m hoping that I can get in that game.”
Nobody associated with the medical staff or coaches is saying anything about what’s wrong with Crosby, whether he was injured or dealing with illness. Crosby has been working out on a side rink while the team was scrimmaging, and he skated with his teammates a bit on Friday. The organization’s captain hadn’t been on the ice in a team setting since July 18.
Madden said during “Madden-Benz: Unfiltered” that he has been told that Crosby has been combating soreness associated with the core surgery he endured earlier in the season. But no one can be sure because of league rules during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Since they won’t tell us, I assume there is potential worry,” Madden said of Crosby’s status. “The cautious way he spoke to the media, and the vibe I get from the team, I’ve got to figure he is questionable for Game 1. And if it’s absurd for me to make that judgment, it’s no less absurd than not telling us what’s wrong with the guy.
“They are using covid as an excuse to hide the injuries. It’s ridiculous. It’s childish. It’s juvenile.”
Meanwhile on the goaltending front, Madden said, “I would have Murray on a short leash, but I’d probably start him the first game.”
But Madden also pointed out the danger of potentially blowing the first game with Murray if he isn’t as sharp as Tristan Jarry coming out of training camp. So he said the short leash on Murray has to go well beyond Game 1 against Montreal.
Madden and I also talk about the roles of Patrick Marleau and Sam Lafferty. Plus, we discuss the start of the Pirates season, Antonio Brown’s eventful week, and our first potential chance at a concert in 2020.
That could be The Struts on Aug. 21 at Starlight Drive-In.
By the way, during the playoffs, check out the “Hockey in the Hub” postgame show that Madden and I will be streaming on “Facebook Live” for Pittsburgh fans immediately after every game.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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