PITTSBURGH -- For Sidney Crosby, it was another encouraging day without any setbacks. It was also a day with no change to his status. Crosby went through another Pittsburgh Penguins morning skate without contact Tuesday as he continues to recover from a concussion. Its exactly the same status the superstar has had since the start of training camp more than three weeks ago. And if the Penguins were hoping the day of their home opener might bring news they have waited months to hear -- that Crosby has been cleared for contact, at least during practice -- they were left disappointed. While general manager Ray Shero said Monday he anticipated that Crosby would visit his concussion specialist Tuesday -- perhaps to get clearance to undergo full contact in practice -- Crosby said no such visit was scheduled. Crosby generally meets with specialist Michael (Micky) Collins at least once a week to review his status and to undergo a series of short tests. Crosby said they will get together again later this week and there was some anticipation that the meeting might be Tuesday, since Crosby and the Penguins returned Monday from a five-day road trip to Western Canada. "I dont know who said I had an appointment today but I dont," Crosby said. "Its the same as usual -- I feel good. It went good today and Im excited to be home." The Penguins might have been even more excited about playing at home for the first time in nearly six months had Crosby been cleared for contact when they practice again Wednesday. "Hes looking great on the ice and hes making great strides to get back," said forward James Neal, who was acquired from Dallas seven months ago to play alongside Crosby but has yet to do so. Not that all this waiting is discouraging Crosby or the Penguins, who were set to meet the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. Both the player and team knew this would be an extended process as Crosby healed from a concussion that affected his vestibular system, the part of the body that controls movement and balance. Even the simple act of skating briskly required some relearning on Crosbys part, and he has spent much of this year unable to do such routine tasks as watching TV or reading a newspaper without experiencing discomfort. But after having some concussion-related symptoms all the way up until a couple of weeks before training camp began Sept. 17, Crosby has been symptom-free since then -- as encouraging a sign as hes received since he was injured during the first week of January. Even an accidental collision with assistant coach Tony Granato during Tuesdays morning skate occurred without incident. "Its never fun watching, but its nice to be getting closer and its nice being out there and going hard and I havent had anything thats really worried me," Crosby said. "Its been nice to have had that the last couple of weeks." During his summer workouts, Crosby was forced to dial down some of his workouts when concussion-related problems such as headaches and dizziness persisted. But even after Crosby is cleared to throw and absorb hits in practice, it wont necessarily mean he is within days of returning to game action. According to his doctors, there will be various levels he must go through even during that process. Among them will be making sure there is no reluctance, even subconsciously, on Crosbys part to fully engage in every phase of the game. "When I come back, Ive got to make sure Im confident -- if Im thinking about that, the chances of me getting hit are probably better," he said. "The more you hesitate, the more chance of that happening. Ill do everything I can to make sure Im ready but, at the same time you cant simulate a guy crushing you on the open ice." In the meantime, the Penguins will attempt to remain competitive even without the face of the NHL. Since Crosby last played on Jan. 5, the Penguins are 25-13-6 during the regular season, including their 2-0-1 swing to Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton that began the 2011-12 season. "I think we looked pretty sharp in the way we played and thats something that usually takes a little time," Crosby said. "I thought for the most part we were in sync. Theres always things at the start of the year you have to improve on, but I think as a group we were really sharp." Pittsburgh was also without former Art Ross Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin for its home opener against Florida, which lost all four games to the Penguins last season. Malkin has lower body soreness that caused him to sit out the 2-1 shootout loss in Edmonton on Sunday, but coach Dan Bylsma said it is not related to his right knee injury of last season. Malkins 2010-11 campaign ended when he tore two ligaments in his right knee during a collision with the Sabres Tyler Myers on Feb. 4. Malkin first experienced the latest discomfort during Pittsburghs 5-3 victory in Calgary on Saturday night. He appeared to experience pain during the pre-game skate Sunday and was held out. "We dont think its long term or anything other than (him) just being sore at this point," Bylsma said. www.cheapjerseyswholesale.top . Bourn had the operation in Dallas on Tuesday. The Indians said Bourn will need six weeks to recover at his home in Houston before he can begin his normal off-season program. cheapjerseyswholesale . Chris Higgins and Jannik Hansen both scored for the Canucks, who come into the playoffs as the top seed in the NHL and won the Presidents Trophy for the first time in franchise history. Vancouver is hoping to enact some revenge against Chicago, which had knocked the Canucks out of the playoffs in the second round the past two seasons. http://www.cheapjerseyswholesale.top/... . MARIE, Ont. [url=http://www.cheapjerseyswholesale.top/]http://www.cheapjerseyswholesale.top/... . Now the veteran mixed martial arts fighter is getting his own reality TV show. The K.F. Dischley Group, a New York-based film and TV production company, has signed the former UFC fighter to star in a 13-episode series called "Crowtime. BARCELONA, Spain -- Diego Costa became a one-man wrecking crew to lead Atletico Madrid to a 3-0 home win over Valencia on Sunday, scoring two second-half goals and earning a pair of penalties to ensure Diego Simeones side retained its share of the Spanish league lead with Barcelona. The Brazilian-born strikers brace drew him level with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo as the leagues leading scorers with 17 goals apiece through 16 rounds. "The important thing is to help the team win, not the goals," Diego Costa said. After a first half dominated by defence, Atletico pressed Valencia into its area and Diego Costa did the rest. He used a burst of speed capped with a stinging strike to beat goalkeeper Diego Alves on a counterattack for the 59th-minute opener. Raul Garcia went on in the 61st for David Villa to reinforce Atleticos midfield and two minutes later fired in a loose ball. Another charge into the area earned Diego Costa his first of two penalties when Victor Ruiz brought him down, only for Diego Alves to save his spot kick in the 74th. But Diego Costa again forced defender Antonio Barragan to foul him as he penetrated the box. This time he blasted the ball over the goalie in the 81st, sealing Atleticos eighth win in as many league games at Vicente Calderon Stadium. "We just go forward game by game," Diego Costa said. "We know that it will be very tough and the league is long, but we will keep fighting to keep this going." Atleticos title challenge gains strength with each passing round as it keeps pace with defending champion Barcelona and has crosstown Real Madrid trailing by five points. It has allowed a league-low nine goals and has found its scorer in Diego Costa, helped by Villa and Garcia, who have combined for another 15 goals in league play. "I always want more," Simeone said. "I dont want my team tto be passive.dddddddddddd I want the team to always push and never be satisfied. It is very tough to keep up with Barcelona, its numbers are stratospheric." Elsewhere, Real Sociedads promising playmaker Ruben Pardo set up three goals to mastermind a 5-1 rout of bottom side Real Betis. Sociedad may have flopped out of the Champions League, but has found its form in the domestic competition where it has won six of its last eight games and climbed into sixth place and the Europa League positions. The hosts overwhelmed Betis on the league debut of coach Juan Carlos Garrido, who replaced the fired Pepe Mel. The Seville-based side is now winless in the last nine rounds. Pardo passed for two goals by striker Imanol Agirretxe and another from defender Jon Ansotegi. Antoine Griezmann scored his 10th goal in the league this season, leaving him third overall behind Diego Costa and Ronaldo. Xabi Prieto rounded out the victory. "Its clear this is the way we need keep playing to go forward and not relax at any moment," said the 21-year-old Pardo, who was given an ovation when substituted late. "Everyone loves being applauded and for people to scream your name, but I am staying calm. I need to keep working to please our fans and, above all, help the team." Athletic Bilbao drew 1-1 at Sevilla to remain in fourth place and the last Champions League spot, but eight points adrift of Madrid. Almeria settled for a 0-0 draw at home against Espanyol after its coach was ejected from the dugouts and Jose "Verza" Garcia missed a penalty he had to repeat in the first half. Verza missed a 23rd-minute penalty he had to repeat after Almeria teammate Oscar Diaz had entered the area during his first attempt, which he converted. Almeria coach Francisco Rodriguez was ejected during a scuffle between both teams near the dugouts in the 32nd. [url=http://www.cheapnfljerseys2015.us.com/]cheap nfl jerseys wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys cheapjerseyswholesale wholesale jerseys ' ' '