Crosby out for All-Star Game, to be sidelined 6-8 weeks

PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby's high-ankle sprain will force him to miss Sunday's NHL All-Star Game and six to eight weeks of the season, Crosby and Pittsburgh Penguins team officials said Tuesday.

Crosby, the leading All-Star vote-getter, injured his right ankle Friday during the Penguins' 3-0 loss to Tampa Bay.

Team doctors confirmed the injury was a high-ankle sprain. The ligament injury normally requires a long recovery -- usually at least a month, and often longer.

The Penguins placed their captain on the injured list Monday, a procedural move that allowed them to add an extra forward for their two games before the break. The move was retroactive to Friday.

Tuesday's prognosis suggests Crosby, last season's scoring champion and MVP, will be sidelined until sometime in March. The Penguins have overcome a poor start to become a prime Eastern Conference playoff contender.

Other athletes who have had a high ankle sprain -- it is common in the NFL -- say it is frustrating because rehabilitation alone can't cure it and considerable rest is needed.

Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, for example, has been out since Dec. 6 with a high ankle sprain and is not yet ready to return. When Fleury was hurt, it was estimated he would return in six to eight weeks.

Before their Monday night home game against Washington, the Penguins recalled forwards Chris Minard, Tim Brent and Jonathan Filewich from their Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) farm club.

Forward Adam Hall (groin) also went on the injured list, and defenseman Ryan Lannon was returned to Wilkes-Barre after not playing in any games during his two weeks with Pittsburgh.