Sidney Crosby has been out since suffering a broken jaw on March 30 against the Islanders, and it looks like Pittsburgh will be without its captain when they open the playoffs against that same Islanders team. Crosby has not been cleared by doctors to play and will miss at least Game 1 of the Penguins' opening round playoff series. Pittsburgh earned the East's top seed despite not having Crosby for the last 12 games of the season. Do they need him to advance in the playoffs?

• Damastes0714: " The Penguins need Crosby to win the Cup, but I don't think they need him to win this series. They'll take their time with him. If we see him in this series its because the Pens NEED him, but I wouldn't expect him until round 2."
• Jacob880711: " this is why shero went out and got players like iginla, murray, morrow, and jokinen. there's no need to have him rush back. the pens will be fine tonight."
• Hoss3138: " Came over here to say that the Pens will win this series without Crosby...they're that good. "
• Whisky tango 333: " Man, if only the Penguins had guys like Evgeni Malkin, James Neal, Jerome Iginla, Jussi Jokinen, Brendan Morrow, Kris Letang, they wouldnt need a guy like Crosby for a weak first round playoff matchup. Oh wait..."
• danthefan1004: " It's the playoffs. If Crosby was ready he'd be playing. They are not sitting him out because its only the Islanders that they're playing. That is ridiculous."

Join the conversation or respond by signing in or creating a profile and blogging.