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Crosby hurt as Lightning blank Penguins

Jan 19, 2008 - 5:24 AM By Chris Adamski PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The showdown between two of the top three scorers in the league ended in disappointment for the Pittsburgh Penguins in more ways than one.

Superstar Sidney Crosby, the reigning league MVP and scoring champion, sustained a high ankle sprain and left the game in the first period as the Penguins dropped a 3-0 decision to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night.

Johan Holmqvist made 27 saves en route to his second career shutout, former Penguin Andre Roy recorded a career-high three points and Chris Gratton registered a goal and an assist for the Lightning, who have won two of three.

"We got out there and played a strong game," Holmqvist said. "We stayed pretty disciplined and did a lot of things better than we have in the past and scored some key goals at key times. Pittsburgh's a great team and has been really hot lately, so it was a big win for us."

The Penguins, who had gone 9-0-1 in their previous 10 contests, had their six-game home winning streak snapped.

But the bigger blow was the injury to Crosby, who was pulled down by Tampa Bay defenseman Paul Ranger - drawing a slashing penalty on the play - while driving to the net. The Penguins captain slid feet-first into the end boards, jamming his right foot at 7:37 of the opening session.

Crosby was able to leave the ice under his own power but was unable to put weight on his right leg and was helped to the locker room by team personnel. He did not return and will re-evaluated Saturday to determine how much time he will miss.

"Obviously, it is a huge loss," Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien said. "There is no team that can deal with losing the best player in the league. He is the heart and he is our leader. We are going to face adversity and we are going to have to battle through it."

Entering Friday, Crosby was tied with Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier and Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk for the league lead in scoring with 63 points. Both Crosby and Lecavalier were kept off the scoresheet in this one, although Crosby played only 4 1/2 minutes.

"Obviously, Sidney is a big part of that team," said Lecavalier, a fellow first overall draft pick. "But for them to win, someone else is going to have to lead, and I think (Evgeni) Malkin can do that."

"That's hockey," Malkin said through an interpreter. "There's always going to be injuries during hockey, so we're going to try to do our best."

Without its top player, Pittsburgh was unable to get anything past Holmqvist, who turned aside 10 shots in each of the first two periods and seven in the third for his first blanking of the season.

Kyle Wanvig scored his first goal since January 20, 2006 - and only the sixth of his career - by converting a nice pass from Roy while in the slot just 4:34 into the contest.

Just over six minutes later, the Lightning's fourth line struck again as Roy set up Gratton for a backhander that appeared to handcuff goaltender Ty Conklin, giving Tampa Bay a 2-0 advantage with 9:09 left in the opening period. Roy, who had not recorded an assist all season, collected two in a span of 6:17.

"I think everyone contributed tonight," Lightning coach John Tortorella said. "From our goaltender on out, it was a contribution by everybody."

Roy's fourth goal of the campaign at 5:32 of the third put away the game. The rugged left wing fired a wrist shot from the slot past Conklin to cap his three-point effort and double his season total.

"Obviously, I'm happy," Roy said. "(Pittsburgh) is a team that kind of gave up on me and didn't really see me as part of their system. It wasn't like I was trying to get revenge or anything, it just happened that way."

Conklin, who finished with 31 saves, lost in regulation for the first time this season. The journeyman fell to 10-1-1 since being recalled from the minors last month to replace the injured Marc-Andre Fleury.