While his teammates quickly dressed for a flight to Philadelphia, Sidney Crosby remained in his practice attire Friday afternoon, sitting alone at his Southpointe locker.

The biggest question in local sports — when will Crosby return to the lineup? — remains a mystery to the Penguins’ captain, who met with the media yesterday but was unable to provide the answer that the hockey world craves.

“I feel like I’m getting better,” Crosby said. “I’m still not symptom-free. It’s pretty clear cut. There’s no gray area. Either you’re symptom-free and you can have contact, or you’re not.”

Crosby skated with the Penguins yesterday simply because ice was not available later in the day at Southpointe or Consol Energy Center. He has skated almost daily since a learning three weeks ago that a soft-tissue injury in his neck was potentially responsible for the concussion-like symptoms Crosby is dealing with.

Crosby had good and bad news to report.

The balance issues that have been dogging Crosby appear to have dissolved.

“It’s been good,” Crosby said. “Today was good. That’s been better.”

However, the headaches remain.

Crosby put a positive spin on the headaches, which were triggered following a Dec. 5 game against Boston.

“The headaches are a little more tolerable than they were before,” Crosby said. “If that wasn’t the case, I wouldn’t be skating.”

Still, that the headaches have persisted for this long has been frustrating for Crosby. He is not on this weekend’s trip but will skate this weekend.

Although he feels better, Crosby admitted that the concussion symptoms are noticeable in his everyday life, to say nothing of his hockey career.

“(It’s) daily,” Crosby said. “That’s the tough part about it. You have days when you’re getting a little better, and symptoms aren’t as bad. Then you have days when they get worse. Not everyone is the same. It doesn’t get consistently worse or consistently better. It’s kind of a roller coaster. They’re not fun. But I feel like I’m getting better. Anyone going through it, all you want is a little progress.”

Crosby was very clear about one thing: He intends on playing again during the regular season.

A popular notion around the league is that general manager Ray Shero should place Crosby on long-term injured reserve, which would still allow Crosby to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs but not in the regular season. This would free money under the salary cap for the Penguins to make a significant trade.

Although Crosby said that decision belongs to “management,” he didn’t appear receptive to the idea.

“I’m trying to get back,” Crosby said. “I’m hoping to get back as soon as possible. I’m not going to pretend I know when that is. Am I going to go (to Shero) and say I’m going to be ready in a month, or two weeks or a week? No.”

But he does intend on returning.

“I wouldn’t be going through all this if I didn’t want to play as soon as possible,” he said. “That’s really all I’m worried about. I’m trying to get back as soon as I can.”

Sid saga continues

The Sidney Crosby timeline during his second attempt to return from concussion symptoms:

Dec. 5, 2011 — Crosby is involved in numerous collisions during a 3-1 loss against Boston.

Dec. 6, 2011 — Crosby doesn’t skate during an optional practice.

Dec. 7, 2011 — Crosby practices with the Penguins, but the team announces later in the day that he will miss at least two games.

Dec. 9, 2011 — Coach Dan Bylsma says Crosby passed an ImPACT test but is having symptoms of a concussion.

Dec. 12, 2011 — Crosby speaks with reporters and says he is still having concussion symptoms.

Jan. 13, 2012 — Crosby skates with the Penguins for the first time in more than a month but says he is still dealing with symptoms.

Jan. 16-19 — Crosby spends time with Florida-based chiropractor Ted Carrick because of balance problems while skating.

Jan. 21, 2012 — Crosby visits spinal specialist Dr. Robert S. Bray in California.

Jan. 28, 2012 — Word leaks that Crosby may have sustained two fractured vertebrae in his neck at some point during the past year.

Jan. 31, 2012 — Dr. Alexander Vaccaro, a spinal trauma expert in Philadelphia, rules that Crosby had suffered soft-tissue damage in his neck, which could be causing concussion symptoms.

Feb. 6, 2012 — Crosby skates with teammates in Montreal but says he is still dealing with symptoms.

Feb. 17, 2012 — Crosby practices with the Penguins at Southpointe and says balance issues have subsided, but headaches remain.

Read more: Crosby: Balance is better – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_782283.html#ixzz1mlxJSDoZ