Penguins C Crosby plans to play in All-Star Game

Jan 21, 2009 - 8:16 PM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will travel to Montreal for Sunday's NHL's All-Star Game, the team announced Wednesday.

There was some concern that the 21-year-old superstar would have to miss the gala event for the second straight year, as he has been hampered recently by a left knee injury.

Crosby was unable to play in the 2008 All-Star Game in Atlanta due to a high ankle sprain that sidelined him for 29 regular-season contests.

He missed one game with the knee problem before returning for Sunday's 3-0 victory over the New York Rangers and recorded an assist in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Carolina.

However, Crosby was twice hit by a puck on the inside of his left forearm during Tuesday's game. Following the contest, he said he would have to visit with a doctor before committing to the All-Star Game.

Crosby also is scheduled to participate in the breakaway and shootout events during the SuperSkills competition Saturday night.

The 2007 Hart Trophy winner, 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. He eclipsed the 1,020,736-vote mark Jagr set in 2000 while with the Penguins.

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.