Sidney Crosby Cleared For Contact, Return Date Not Set

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By Alan Robinson - NHL.com

PITTSBURGH -- Finally, the news the Pittsburgh Penguins waited three months to hear: Sidney Crosby is symptom-free and is expected to resume playing soon.

Crosby, sidelined for all but eight games this season due to concussion-like symptoms, was cleared for contact and practiced with the Penguins on Tuesday. He could return as early as Sunday, when the Penguins play the Boston Bruins, though Crosby is not pinpointing a specific return date.

"No sooner than Sunday, I would say, but I'm not going to sit here and put a date on it," said Crosby, who expects to take part in game-day morning skates Wednesday and Friday and full practices Thursday and Saturday. "It would be total guesswork. I just want to make sure I get through these days fine."

If all goes well the rest of the week, Crosby said, "That would be a great decision to make if I get to that point." READ ON....

Related articles

• Crosby cleared for contact at practice (canada.com)
• Sidney Crosby cleared for contact (sports.nationalpost.com)
• Sidney Crosby symptom-free and cleared for contact (thestar.com)

Detroit Red Wings Tie Record With 20th Straight Home Win

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Brian Hedger - NHL.com Correspondent

DETROIT – Back on Nov.3, it felt like the Detroit Red Wings might never win another game this season.

They'd just lost a lackluster game at home to the Calgary Flames and were winless in six straight games. Now, it feels like they might never lose again – at least at home.

The Red Wings did something on Sunday night that hasn't been accomplished in the National Hockey League in 36 years and only done by two other teams in the League's history. They won on their home ice for the 20th consecutive time by downing the visiting Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 at Joe Louis Arena in a thrilling game filled with end-to-end action. READ ON....

Sidney Crosby Skates With Teammates, Status Unchanged

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By Arpon Basu - NHL.com Correspondent

MONTREAL -- There were three injured Pittsburgh Penguins who joined their teammates for practice Monday, but it was the one who is the furthest from returning that drew the most attention.

Sidney Crosby was on the ice with his teammates for the first time in two months, but said it has little bearing on when he may return to play and was not an indication of an improvement in his recovery from concussion-like symptoms.

The main reason Crosby joined his teammates was that his usual skating partners -- injured teammates Jordan Staal and Simon Despres -- have progressed far enough in their recoveries from knee injuries that they could practice with the team.

Basically, Crosby didn't want to feel lonely.

"It's just good to be out there," Crosby said. "I wasn't going to skate by myself if I didn't have to." READ ON....

Related articles

• Crosby skates in Penguins' main practice (sportsillustrated.cnn.com)
• Crosby mixes it up, practises with teammates (cbc.ca)
• Crosby practises with Penguins but still no timeframe for return to action (thestar.com)

NHL Moves Winter Classic Start Time To 3 ET

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NHL.com
NEW YORK – The National Hockey League (NHL®) today announced that the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic will start at 3 p.m. ET (NBC,CBC,RDS). The game originally was scheduled for 1 p.m., ET. The revised start time decision was based on tomorrow's weather forecast and should offer optimal game conditions for players and fans.

All tickets to the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic will continue to be honored and all ticket-holder agreement language remains unchanged.

The following is a revised timeline for fans based on the 3 p.m. ET start time:

Sports Complex Parking Lots will open at 9 a.m. ET

Spectator Plaza will operate from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. ET.

Gates to Citizens Bank Park will open at 1 p.m. ET

Related articles

• NHL Winter Classic Pushed Back Over Weather Forecast (inquisitr.com)
• NHL Winter Classic TV Schedule Change: Start Time Moves to 3p ET Based on January 2nd Weather Forecast (tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com)

Phillies Are Unsung Heroes In Hosting NHL's Winter Classic

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By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com

PHILADELPHIA -- It was the perfect synergy between baseball and hockey on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park. While the alumni of the Rangers and Flyers were fighting it out on a makeshift ice surface below, up in the press box etched in black marker on a white board remained the lineups from Game 5 of the recent National League Division Series between the hometown Phillies and Cardinals.

"It's a tradition here to leave the lineups up until we play the next game," said Ed Deal, a longtime pressbox attendant at Phillies games.

It's also a painful reminder to local fans that the Phillies lost and the Cardinals went on to win the World Series, that the unexpected can happen. It's also a reminder that the lineups will change. The No. 3 hitter for the Cardinals, one Albert Pujols, is now an Angel. The Phillies' No. 6 hitter, Raul Ibanez, is probably gone. Time marches on. READ ON....