Sidney Crosby expected back soon after mumps diagnosis
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is expected to return Tuesday or Wednesday after being diagnosed with the mumps, general manager Jim Rutherford said Monday.
Rutherford added that the only Penguins player that currently has symptoms of the mumps is right wing Beau Bennett, but the team has not received Bennett's final test results.
Crosby was ruled out for Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning when the Penguins announced his mumps diagnosis on Sunday. Crosby also missed Friday's game against the Calgary Flames after his face was visibly swollen when he addressed the media earlier in the day.
After Monday's game against the Lightning, the Penguins will host the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday and the Florida Panthers on Saturday.
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Crosby and Bennett are the latest NHL players to be diagnosed this season with the mumps, a viral infection that causes swelling in the salivary glands. Last month, Anaheim Ducks players Corey Perry and Francois Beauchemin both contracted the illness, as did Minnesota Wild defensemen Jonas Broadin, Marco Scandella and Ryan Suter.
Crosby has nine goals and 26 assists in 27 games this season. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy for the second time last season as the NHL's most valuable player.
- Mike Fiammetta