"There are plenty of theories intended to explain the spike in NHL players diagnosed with concussions over the past year.

Some point to the increased size and speed of players.

Others suggest changes to the rules are responsible.

And there are many who contend that there are more concussions diagnosed these days simply because medical personnel are more aware of them than in the past.

But, as Ottawa prepared to face the Penguins Friday night at Scotiabank Place, Senators center Jason Spezz a put forth an intriguing idea: That players finally have realized that hiding a potentially serious injury is not in their best interest.

"I think guys are probably being more honest about what they're feeling," he said. "I think that in the past, we've been known to hide a lot of injuries from our teammates, from our coaches, from our trainers, from yourself.

"You've been taught as a hockey player to suck it up and that, if you don't feel right, well, it will go away after a few days."

A pivotal point, he said, came when Penguins center Sidney Crosby took a blindside shot to the head from Washington's David Steckel Jan. 1, then had his skull bounced off the Consol Energy Center glass by Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman four nights later.

Crosby was diagnosed with a concussion Jan. 6 and missed the next 61 regular-season games.

"Seeing what's happened with Sid has opened a lot of people's eyes," Spezza said. "We don't know if the reason his concussions have been so bad is because he had two so close together, but that's been the speculation."