The Penguins, after hunkering in their homes for three long months, reassembled in Pittsburgh in recent weeks. Several key questions were still waiting.
A few were answered during voluntary workouts and a postseason training camp that wrapped up Saturday with a fourth team scrimmage. But six days into the two-week camp, a bigger worry caught them with their heads down.
Uh-oh, is everything OK with Sid?
Settling on a goalie, finding an identity for the third line and fixing their wonky power play all became secondary concerns when superstar Sidney Crosby ducked out of their July 18 scrimmage at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
A week later, it sounds like Crosby, despite missing three scrimmages and a pair of practices, will be on the ice for Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens on Aug. 1. It's unclear if what he is or was dealing with might linger all summer. Only Crosby, team doctors and the Penguins are privy to that information.
As Crosby watched his teammates complete camp, the Penguins did figure out some stuff. Jason Zucker should be a fine fit alongside Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust. Jake Guentzel and Patric Hornqvist look ready. Coach Mike Sullivan is comfortable with how his defensive pairs are currently constructed.
Sullivan was also pleased with the progress and the passion he saw in camp.
"What our objectives were (the past two weeks), what we set out to accomplish, I think we did. ... I think our guys have had enough of playing against themselves. I think they're excited about playing against an opponent," he said.
Sunday, the Penguins headed to Toronto, the hub city for the Eastern Conference playoffs. Tuesday is their lone exhibition, versus the rival Philadelphia Flyers. Four days later, the puck drops on their five-game series against the Canadiens.
So the Penguins are running out of time to answer lingering questions. Here are six we are still wondering about after they touched down in Toronto.
