Crosby dazzles in comeback from concussion
PITTSBURGH (Reuters) – The sight of Sidney Crosby on the ice was more than enough, but the Pittsburgh Penguins captain gave the excited crowd even more by scoring the opening goal against the New York Islanders in his long-awaited comeback from concussion on Monday.
Sidelined for almost 11 months, Crosby zipped a backhand past New York Islanders‘ goalie Anders Nilsson just five minutes into his comeback, bringing the sold out crowd to its feet.
“He’s just a freak of nature,” Silvio Andreassi, 37, said from the stands right after the first-period goal. “He just makes magic happen. You come to expect it from him. He just does it every time.”
The buildup in Pittsburgh was palpable on Monday as sports talk shows questioned how many minutes Crosby would play? Would he be rusty? Would he seek out a big hit?
When his skates touched the ice the shrieking crowd greeted him with gold signs that read “Welcome back Sid.”
“It’s awesome, just awesome,” said Jim Runatz who was seated in the stands with his 10-year-old son J.D.
“He represents the working class mentality of this city. All that’s good in hockey, comes along with him.”
J.D. Runatz, who said he was inspired to play ice hockey by Crosby, skipped his own hockey practice on Monday to watch ‘Sid the Kid’.
Erin Zill, 24, snagged standing room only seats on Sunday as soon as she heard that Crosby had been confirmed in Monday’s lineup.
“There were times when I thought he would never play again,” she said. “And now here I am watching him, almost a year later. It is amazing.”
Crosby, arguably the NHL’s biggest drawcard, has not played since absorbing two hits to the head in successive games within a week in January and suffering post-concussion symptoms.
He was cleared last month to resume full contact after struggling with headaches all year and been steadily increasing his physical workload in practice.
“There was concern the former NHL most valuable player might not play again,” said Dejan Kovacevic, a sports columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
“Even in the scope of the great athletes Pittsburgh has had, Crosby already has a special place.
“His loss would have been immeasurable. And to have him back, to see No. 87 out there, is going to mean a ton to many people.”
Monica Drutch, 19, left college at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown three days before the U.S.’s Thanksgiving break to share the moment with her twin sister, Joan.
“This is monumental,” said Joan Drutch.
“He is the pride of Pittsburgh and we have been waiting for this forever.”
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)