Sidney Crosby will sit 2 games, being tested for mumps
CBC Sports | Posted: December 12, 2014 9:50 PM | Last Updated: December 13, 2014
Had swollen face at Friday's practice
Pittsburgh Penguins star forward Sidney Crosby will sit out the next two games as a precaution while the team awaits test results for the mumps.
Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford released a statement after the 27-year-old appeared in front of the media Friday with considerable swelling on the right side of his face.
"There is no indication at this time that this is the mumps, but we are going to hold him out as a precaution," Rutherford said. "We'll have additional test results in a few days."
A source confirmed to ESPN.com that Crosby tested negative for mumps.
Swelling of the glands is one of the symptoms of the mumps virus that has been plaguing the NHL this season.
Crosby spoke to the media after practice, and believed at the time that he would play in Friday's game against Calgary.
He missed Thursday's practice with an unspecified illness. Two players from the New Jersey Devils were recently diagnosed with the mumps.
Divisional rivals Adam Larsson and Travis Zajac both contracted the illness. A photo of Larsson's equally swollen face has made the rounds on social media.
While the hockey world awaits the test results, people are already having fun drawing various comparisons. To be fair, Crosby's transformation is rather striking.