Penguins captain Sidney Crosby ruled out of game against Islanders

UNIONDALE, N.Y. - Sidney Crosby ruled himself out for Monday night's game against the New York Islanders after skating with his teammates in the morning.

Crosby took the ice for the pre-game skate at Nassau Coliseum and stayed out well after the rest of the Penguins went off to the dressing room.

Crosby was the NHL's leading scorer when he badly sprained his right ankle while sliding hard into the boards Jan. 18 against Tampa Bay. He missed 21 games before coming back against the Lightning on March 4, playing three games until pain returned in his ankle.

Crosby said he feels better than he has in some time, but isn't in game condition yet.

"I didn't come in here expecting I would play tonight," he said. "My ankle is feeling pretty good, but I'm just not ready yet."

Although he wasn't set to go Monday versus the also-ran Islanders, the Penguins captain wouldn't say if he would also sit out Tuesday at New Jersey in a key game against the Devils.

Pittsburgh entered play Monday with a two-point lead over New Jersey at the top of the Atlantic Division and one point behind Montreal atop the Eastern Conference.

The Penguins have won five of six, including a 7-1 home victory over the Devils on Saturday night that broke a deadlock for the division lead.

"It's a big game but it's a little bit easier probably not to push yourself when the team is playing so well," he said of Tuesday's matchup. "You have to feel good injury-wise. I have felt a lot better as we've gone along here the last week or so. As long as that continues and I continue to get in shape, hopefully it'll be soon.

"It's felt the best it has in months right now, and that's a good sign."

Penguins coach Michel Therrien called Crosby day to day, but liked what he saw Monday.

"I'm really optimistic," he said. "He looked really, really good."