WASHINGTON - Sidney Crosby returned to the Pittsburgh Penguins' lineup for Game 5 against the Washington Capitals after missing the previous game with a concussion.
Crosby is in the lineup five days after being concussed on a cross-check to the head by Matt Niskanen in Game 3. Coach Mike Sullivan said Saturday morning that Crosby had passed his concussion test and was considered a game-time decision.
Conor Sheary was also back after missing Game 4 with a concussion that came as a result of a collision with teammate Patric Hornqvist on Monday.
Pittsburgh leads the second-round series 3-1 and can eliminate Washington with a victory Saturday night. Sullivan said being up in the series didn't factor into the decision for Crosby or Sheary being available.
"We trust our doctors and the process that they go through, and when they tell us that these guys are healthy and are cleared to play, then that's all we need to know," Sullivan said after an optional morning skate. "The health and safety of our players is always the priority and that will never change. But we trust our medical staff, we trust the doctors that are monitoring these guys.
"They know way more about it than the rest of us do. And so, we rely on those guys to monitor these situations and advise us the right way. So I think that's the most prudent way to approach it and that's how we are."
