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Update: Per everyone in the world on twitter, it's official- Crosby is not playing tonight.
Reading the tea leaves from this morning's skate prior to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs, it looks like Sidney Crosby will miss the start of the playoffs.
#Penguins top power play has Martin, Iginla on points with Malkin, Neal, Kunitz. Letang on 2nd unit with Niskanen, Jokinen, Morrow, Bennett.
— Shelly Anderson (@pgshelly) May 1, 2013
You don't see Crosby's name there, which isn't a good sign for the Pens superstar to be in the lineup tonight. Crosby started skating on April 15th and recently rejoined the team for regular practices, after being cleared by doctors to do so, but he has not yet been cleared to play in games from the injury suffered on March 30th. Crosby has said that he feels fine and as soon as he is cleared, he will play.
It was reported that Crosby will see a doctor again Wednesday, before Game 1, so there still is the holdout hope that perhaps he will get a last minute clearance to jump in. But as the Pens are practicing and preparing, it sure looks like they do not expect to see #87 on the ice tonight.