"Sidney Crosby was on the ice for the weary Pittsburgh Penguins optional skate Friday, one of only a handful of players from the NHL's busiest team who didn't take the day off.

No surprise there. With his concussion symptoms vanishing, Crosby can't wait to get to the rink these days. His return to the sport he was dominating at this time a year ago appears to be drawing ever so close.

How close? That remains the unanswered question, although there isn't the slightest hint it will occur when Pittsburgh visits Toronto for a Saturday night matchup of two hot teams."