Kevin Allen

USA TODAY Sports

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The Pittsburgh Penguins announced that their captain Sidney Crosby has been diagnosed with a concussion and won’t play Wednesday’s Game 4 against the Washington Capitals.

“We will evaluate him day-to-day,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said.

Sullivan described Crosby as “very upbeat and positive.”

“We are very optimistic and we are hopeful that we will get him back in a timely fashion,” Sullivan said.

Crosby was injured Monday in Game 3. He left the game at 5:24 of the first period after being crosschecked in the face by Washington defenseman Matt Niskanen. He received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for his action, but the NHL Department of Player Safety will not be suspending him.

Crosby has a history of concussions, suffering through post-concussion syndrome in 2011. He missed the better part of two seasons with head and neck issues. He missed the first six games of the 2016-17 season with a concussions.

Sullivan said Crosby will be following the same concussion protocol as any player would follow in this circumstance. Conor Sheary also suffered a concussion in Game 3, and he’s following the same protocol. Sheary was seen skating before the Penguins’ Tuesday practice.

“The nature of these things is they are all very different,” Sullivan said. “Sometimes they come around quickly and other times they don’t.”

The Penguins own a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal.

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