According to Pittsburgh Penguins insider Rob Rossi, team captain Sidney Crosby passed a concussion test to play in Game 6 against the New York Rangers, but was not allowed.
The Senior Writer for The Athletic told the PM Team on Monday, after the Penguins were bounced from the playoffs by the Rangers on Sunday night in Game 7 that, “he had passed a concussion test and wanted to play in Game 6 and was told no by the general manager [Ron Hextall].”
Rossi adds that he isn’t saying it was a Hextall only decision.
Crosby did play in Game 7 after taking a high hit from Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba in the second period of Game 5.
With Crosby's history of concussion issues, the Penguins may have been hesitant to play Crosby with the Penguins up 3-2 in the series at the time.
Trouba did not face any penalties or punishment for the hit from the league.
Listen as Rossi also talks about the futures of Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang and why he doesn’t see them coming back.