Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will not play when the team hosts the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, but the team said he is past the infectious stage of the mumps and should return sometime this week.
Crosby was diagnosed with the mumps on Sunday and the team decided to hold him out when the Metropolitan Division-leading Penguins (19-6-4) host the Tampa Bay Lightning (19-9-3), which holds the top spot in the Atlantic Division, on Monday.
Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford gave a good prognosis for Crosby on Monday morning.
"Sidney is past the infectious stage as of yesterday," Rutherford told the team's official website. "... As far as I know he will return tomorrow or the next day."
Crosby may not be the only Penguins player dealing with the virus as Rutherford said Beau Bennett has mumps symptoms which has caused for him to be quarantined from the team. The GM, in his first year with the Penguins, added that tests on Bennett haven't returned yet, so there is no clear diagnosis.
Crosby, the NHL's reigning Hart Trophy winner, is tied for the NHL lead with 26 assists and ranks fourth in the league with 35 points, one behind Evgeni Malkin for the team lead. The Penguins captain is fourth on the team in goals (9), and tied for second in plus-minus (plus-9).
The Penguins are looking to finish first in their division for the third straight year and have had a solid start under new head coach Mike Johnston.
Following Monday's game, the Penguins host the Colorado Avalanche (10-13-7) at Consol Energy Center on Thursday and it's possible Crosby will re-enter the lineup then.
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