NEWS » over Tennessee-Martin on Saturday.Allen return

PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby is back on the ice, but he wont be in the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup on Thursday when they begin their defense of the Stanley Cup.Crosby, the Penguins captain and arguably the NHLs best player, participated in some of the teams practice Wednesday, but his latest concussion will keep him out of the season opener against the rival Washington Capitals.Its a game Crosby certainly didnt want to miss -- the Penguins will raise their fourth Stanley Cup banner during pregame ceremonies at PPG Paints Arena. Then again, the ultra-competitive Crosby doesnt like missing a game for any reason.Especially for this reason -- a concussion, the same dreaded injury that caused him to miss big chunks of the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons, when Crosby was at his statistical and competitive best.Its a game you want to be part of but, at the same time, I think Ive spent more than enough time being in this situation, Crosby said after practicing Wednesday in a yellow no-contact jersey. I think you understand you have to be patient, you have to listen to your body. If youre ready, youre ready. If not, then you dont take any chances -- and give yourself a lot better chance of not having it happen again if you treat it the right way.The Penguins started the 2011-12 season without Crosby, going 11-6-3 before he returned briefly only to be diagnosed with a concussion yet again. As center Evgeni Malkin said, We know how to play without Sid.But there are signs this layoff might not be as long as those during Crosbys past concussion issues.Crosbys latest concussion diagnosis was on Monday, but the superstar skated Tuesday and took part in drills Wednesday.Im always happy when Im on the ice, Crosby said.And coach Mike Sullivan is hinting Crosbys time off might not be lengthy.As they (injured players) make progress, you add to the intensity of their workouts and see how they respond, Sullivan said. As players respond the right way, you can take it to the next level. Thats the process weve gone through here with Sid.The Capitals, of course, know what they must do to reach the next level, and thats get past the Penguins.Washington easily was the NHLs best regular-season team in 2015-16, accumulating 120 points -- 11 more than any team in the league, and 16 more than Pittsburgh. But the Capitals lost three of five to the Penguins during the season, and then were eliminated by them in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals -- the seventh in eight series theyve lost to Pittsburgh.We have no bitterness toward Pittsburgh, Vezina Trophy-winning goalie Braden Holtby said. They earned it, they earned the Stanley Cup. Any bitterness is toward us, how we didnt perform well enough to beat them.On Thursday, Holtby said, the Capitals cant be thinking about what happened last year but rather what they need to do this year.Were going in to play our game and get two points to start off the season, he said.But while Penguins stars Crosby and Malkin now have two Stanley Cup rings, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has yet to play in the finals -- and the Penguins are a big reason why.I dont think we played bad, every game was a close game, Ovechkin said. But we didnt get it done last year.Every year were in the same position: We think this is the year. I think it is time to not talk, it is time to move forward.Both teams are largely unchanged from 2015-16, a rarity during the free agency era in which clubs often undergo extensive roster alterations from season to season.The soon-to-be 40-year-old Matt Cullen will replace Crosby on the Penguins top line with left wing Conor Sheary and right wing Patric Hornqvist.You cant replace Sid. Its a group effort, to fill holes and play effectively while hes out.The Penguins also will be without Stanley Cup-winning goalie Matt Murray, who broke a hand during the World Cup. Hell be replaced by Marc-Andre Fleury, who lost his starting job to Murray late last season after sustaining his second concussion of the season.Fleury, who was in net when the Penguins won the Stanley Cup in 2009, will start his 11th consecutive season opener for Pittsburgh, and his 12th in 13 seasons.Laurie Boschman Jets Jersey . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. Kyle Connor Jets Jersey . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. http://www.jetsauthentic.com/authentic-keith-tkachuk-jets-jersey/ . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). Adam Lowry Jets Jersey . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. Dmitry Kulikov Jersey .J. -- Josh Cribbs was in the Pro Bowl in February and out of a job six months later.ATLANTA -- Marterious Allen and B.J. Clay scored touchdowns on defense within 10 seconds of each other in the third quarter and Georgia State broke away for a 31-6 victory over Tennessee-Martin on Saturday.Allen returned a fumble 23 yards for a score with 4:51 left in the quarter before Clay, who had two interceptions, picked off Gunnar Holcombe and returned the ball for a 38-yard score.The Panthers (2-5) led 10-3 at halftime on Aaron Winchesters 7-yard pass to Glenn Smith and Rogier ten Lohuis 23-yard ffield goal.dddddddddddd. Darius Stubbs 35-yard run accounted for the Panthers other points.The six points scored by UTM (4-4) were the fewest given up by Georgia State in the programs six years.The Skyhawks, coming in with the Ohio Valley Conferences top scoring offense at 40.6 points per game, managed only a pair of Mitch Mersman field goals while surrendering four turnovers. ' ' '