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Crosby questionable as Penguins take on Islanders

Nov 8, 2008 - 2:34 PM Pittsburgh (7-4-2) at NY Islanders (4-8-1), 7:00pm EST

UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- Just as they seem to be hitting their stride offensively, the Pittsburgh Penguins may be without their centerpiece as they try to extend their winning streak to three games.

The Penguins visit the New York Islanders for an Atlantic Division clash on Saturday, but superstar center Sidney Crosby is questionable with an undisclosed injury. He originally suffered the injury on October 30 in a 4-1 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes, but was able to play in Pittsburgh's next two games.

However, he left practice early on Friday after participating in a power-play session and his status for Saturday is up in the air. The 2007 Hart and Art Ross Trophy winner - who missed 29 games last season with a high ankle sprain and had a hip injury earlier this season - has recorded three goals and 13 assists while playing every game this season.

In picking up consecutive wins over the St. Louis Blues and Edmonton Oilers, the Penguins have posted their two highest scoring outputs of the season. Offseason acquisition Miroslav Satan notched a goal and two assists in a 6-3 triumph against St. Louis last Saturday, then added a pair of tallies in Thursday's 5-4 win over Edmonton.

Over the first month of the season, the most the Penguins scored over any three-game stretch was 10 goals. They have 11 in their last two games.

With that kind of offensive production, they may be able to survive a night or two without their 21-year-old leader, even if Crosby's 35 career points against the Islanders are his second-most against any opponent. He has 25 assists in 20 meetings against them.

The Islanders are still trying to turn a corner after finally recovering from a miserable two-week stretch. From October 18 to November 1, the Islanders went 0-5-1 - including three one-goal losses - but they have won two of three since. Their two-game winning streak was halted on Thursday as the Atlanta Thrashers overcame a 3-1 deficit with three third-period goals to stun the Islanders, 4-3.

The Penguins took five of eight meetings with the Islanders last season and New York has struggled within its division so far this campaign, dropping three of four games.