Crosby could miss more time And he'll be missed in Pittsburgh

Crosby injured his right ankle during the Penguins' 3-0 loss to Tampa Bay on Friday and is expected to be out at least a month and possibly longer. Because there is swelling in his ankle, Crosby won't be re-examined by team doctors until Tuesday.

>> Associated Press

Sid the Kid was supposed to have an MRI done today on the ankle, so this development can't be considered a good thing. So far all we've heard is that four weeks diagnosis for a high ankle sprain, but what we haven't heard is that there could certainly be a fracture in the leg.

That would keep him out for longer, and it's not out of the question we don't see him again at all this season.

Again, we don't really know anything until tomorrow. (Other than the fact he's not repeating as league MVP.)

Despite the fact he faces top checkers every game of the season, Crosby is the Penguins' offence. When he's on the ice at even strength, the team scores at a rate of 3.95 goals per 60 minutes, eighth best in the league. When he's not, their goal-scoring rate falls to 1.57 per 60 mins.

The Penguins have other weapons, and they're going to have to step up, but almost as much as anyone in the league, Crosby's the one making things happen in Pittsburgh.

A look at the top players at improving their teams' offence when they're on the ice at even strength:

	NAME	TM	GP	QUAL COMP	GFON/60	GFOFF/60		Diff
1	DANYHEATLEY	OTT	43	0.1	4.98	2.2		2.78
2	RYANGETZLAF	ANA	49	-0.02	4.01	1.29		2.72
3	JAROMEIGINLA	CGY	49	0.06	4.31	1.77		2.54
4	SIDNEYCROSBY	PIT	46	0.01	3.95	1.57		2.38
5	JASONSPEZZA	OTT	42	0.12	4.65	2.31		2.34
6	COREYPERRY	ANA	51	-0.02	3.67	1.37		2.30
7	TODDBERTUZZI	ANA	37	-0.06	3.45	1.35		2.10
8	PAVELDATSYUK	DET	49	0.14	4.27	2.27		2.00
9	VINCENTLECAVALIER	T.B	48	0.12	3.78	1.85		1.93
10	NICKLASLIDSTROM	DET	49	0.21	4.09	2.18		1.91
11	HENRIKZETTERBERG	DET	44	0.18	4.1	2.25		1.85
12	PAULSTASTNY	COL	46	0.12	3.88	2.09		1.79
13	MARTINST. LOUIS	T.B	48	0.09	3.64	1.85		1.79
14	ALEXANDERRADULOV	NSH	47	-0.02	3.83	2.09		1.74
15	MIKERICHARDS	PHI	46	0.04	3.74	2.01		1.73
16	AARONVOROS	MIN	31	-0.05	3.51	1.79		1.72
17	NICLASHAVELID	ATL	50	0.12	3.35	1.67		1.68
18	BRADBOYES	STL	45	-0.02	3.68	2.03		1.65
19	RYANMALONE	PIT	42	0	3.52	1.87		1.65
20	MATSSUNDIN	TOR	49	0.1	3.78	2.17		1.61

Pittsburgh won 2-0 on Saturday with out him, and things are going to be tight until he comes back. Just watch the goals for decline.

And, as Eric Duhatschek says, we'll certainly see what Evgeni Malkin's made of now.