Crosby healthy scratch for Penguins

Apr 6, 2008 - 7:04 PM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby was a healthy scratch for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Penguins (47-26-8) need a win to pass Montreal and grab the top seed in the Eastern Conference. But they have decided to take a cautious approach with Crosby by getting him ready for the playoffs.

Pittsburgh, the winner of the Atlantic Division, with face Ottawa or Philadelphia in the conference quarterfinals, which begin either Wednesday or Thursday.

The 20-year-old Crosby has missed 28 games this season after suffering a sprained right ankle while crashing into the boards against the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 18.

The NHL's leading scorer at the time of the injury, Crosby sat out 21 games before returning on March 4. However, he played in only three games before soreness in the ankle forced him back out of the lineup for another seven contests.

Crosby returned for a second time in a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders on March 27 and had played in the Penguins' last four contests. He recorded two goals and an assist in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Flyers.

Crosby has played in 53 games this season, recording 24 goals and 48 assists.