The Pittsburgh Penguins don't need Sidney Crosby, at least, not at the moment.
Pittsburgh enters this weekend's All-Star break as the hottest team in the league, winning seven straight following a 3-2 shootout victory over St. Louis on Tuesday.
The team is playing so well coach Dan Bylsma cancelled practices scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday as a gift to his team after putting together its longest winning streak in more than a year.
The Penguins have surged behind All-Star center Evgeni Malkin, who leads the NHL in scoring. Malkin's play has helped the Penguins survive without star Sidney Crosby, who remains out indefinitely following a recurrence of concussion-like symptoms.
Defenseman Brooks Orpik says the team got back to basics following a six-game skid earlier this month and started playing a more physical brand of hockey.