Let the "progressing" begin:

Crosby To Skate
On His Own

JANUARY 11--Pens coach Dan Bylsma announced that center Sidney Crosby will join the team in Washington Wednesday night and will skate on his own during a two-game road trip in Florida. "(Crosby) has been working out with light exercises in the weight room and on the bike," Bylsma said. "We'll be glad to see him on the ice." There is no timetable for his return.

And so we begin the journey to "Welcome Back Sid II"

NHL Misses #87

For those #87 detractors who say the game doesn't miss him, the numbers don't lie:

NHL'S most watched regular-season games since 1975
4.50 million viewers 01/01/11 NBC Capitals-Penguins
4.40 million viewers 01/01/09 NBC Red Wings-Blackhawks
3.80 million viewers 01/27/96 FOX 6-game regional coverage
3.80 million viewers 01/01/08 NBC Penguins-Sabres
3.74 million viewers 01/02/12 NBC Rangers-Flyers
3.68 million viewers 01/01/10 NBC Flyers-Bruins

Although New York City and Philadelphia are much, much bigger markets than DC and the burgh, this year's Winter Classic  had nearly 800,000 less viewers. Even the Sabres-Pens had more viewers than the big market match-up with a much smaller buildup (and no HBO 24/7).