Music: {allcanada} Penguins' Crosby to miss next two games with illness

Friday, December 12, 2014

{allcanada} Penguins' Crosby to miss next two games with illness

The Santa Clause / Santa Clause 2: The Mrs. Claus

PITTSBURGH -- Forward Sidney Crosby will miss the Pittsburgh Penguins next two games after saying he was healthy enough to play against the Calgary Flames on Friday.

Crosby participated in Pittsburgh's morning skate at Consol Energy Center after missing practice on Thursday with an undisclosed illness. Crosby and Penguins coach Mike Johnston each said Crosby felt well enough to play against the Flames following the morning skate.

Medical specialists made a recommendation to sit Crosby over the weekend, against the Flames and the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, after further tests came back Friday, according to a release on the Penguins website.

"There is no indication at this time that this is the mumps, but we are going to hold him out as a precaution," Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said. "We'll have additional test results in a few days."

Crosby has played in each of Pittsburgh's 27 games and is tied for second in the NHL with 35 points. He had previously missed the Penguins morning skate on Dec. 2, before a game against the New Jersey Devils, because of an undisclosed illness.

Bad Santa (Director's Cut) / A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa