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Sidney Crosby skates with Jack St. Ivany, Blake Lizotte first on ice in regular jersey
Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Sidney Crosby skated again at Penguins morning skate, and Blake Lizotte was back in a regular jersey, huge for Pittsburgh before Buffalo.
Taylor Haase reported the Crosby and Lizotte updates from Cranberry, Pa., and it matters because this roster is built around details, not vibes.
Crosby is still listed on IR, but his 27-32-59 line in 2025-26 is the engine that keeps the Penguins' top-six from stalling out.
Pittsburgh sits 31-16-13, and the margin in the Metro is thin enough that one rough week can flip the standings.
Haase also noted Crosby skated this time with Jack St. Ivany, the right-shot defender who is 26, drafted in 2018 (Round 4) by the Philadelphia Flyers.
"Sidney Crosby is skating again this morning, this time with Jack St. Ivany."
- Taylor Haase
- Taylor Haase
"First one on the ice for the Penguins' morning skate is ... Blake Lizotte, in a regular jersey. Good sign after he missed last game with a lower-body injury."
-Taylor Haase
-Taylor Haase
Lizotte being in a regular sweater is sneaky important because his game is straight lines, puck pressure, and clean shifts when the bench needs oxygen.
He's at 7-12-19 this season and ESPN lists him day-to-day, so the "regular jersey" clue feels like a real step toward playing Thursday versus the Sabres.
Sidney Crosby steadies Pittsburgh Penguins before Buffalo
You can feel the fanbase exhale a little here, because Pittsburgh looks like a different team when 87 is even close to returning.
The cap angle matters too, since Lizotte's deal carries a $1.85 million cap hit through this season and next, and that's the kind of bottom-six value you cannot replace cheaply.
If Crosby stays out Thursday, the Penguins still need their centers to win the middle, keep the man advantage simple, and let their blue line move pucks early.
If he's trending back, this week becomes less about survival and more about sharpening for the stretch run.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Kyle Dubas updates Sidney Crosby recovery as Pittsburgh Penguins weigh deadline moves
Kyle Dubas updates Sidney Crosby recovery as Pittsburgh Penguins weigh deadline moves
| POLL | ||
MARS 5|164 ANSWERS Sidney Crosby skates with Jack St. Ivany, Blake Lizotte first on ice in regular jersey Should Sidney Crosby play as soon as he's cleared? | ||
| Yes | 132 | 80.5 % |
| No | 32 | 19.5 % |
| List of polls | ||