Penguins C Crosby still questionable for All-Star Game

Jan 21, 2009 - 5:29 AM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby claimed after Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes that his status for Sunday's All-Star Game in Montreal is uncertain.

Crosby missed Friday's 3-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks after suffering an apparent knee injury in a 6-3 setback to the Washington Capitals two nights earlier.

However, the 2007 Hart Trophy winner returned for Sunday's 3-0 victory over the New York Rangers and then recorded an assist on Tuesday.

"I'm going to talk to the doctor (on Tuesday night), and we'll know by tomorrow what's going on," said Crosby, who was unable to play in the 2008 All-Star Game in Atlanta after sustaining a high ankle sprain that kept him sidelined for 29 regular-season contests.

This season, Crosby finished with a record 1,713,021 votes in earning his third All-Star Game appearance.

On December 21, Crosby surpassed Jaromir Jagr's record for the most votes received by a player in fan balloting. The 21-year-old eclipsed the 1,020,736-vote mark Jagr set in 2000 while with the Penguins.

Although Crosby would provide many of the highlights the Bell Centre will house during the NHL's midseason gala, his health is the first order of business for the Penguins, who stumbled into the break with a pedestrian 23-21-4 record.

"It's going to be good, we've got some guys that are pretty banged up," Crosby said of the break. "It'll be a good time to kind of regroup here and get ready for the stretch."

A native of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Crosby has recorded 17 goals and 43 assists in 47 games this season.

Selected first overall in the 2005 draft, Crosby has collected 116 tallies and 353 points in 260 contests over his four-year career with Pittsburgh.