Sidney Crosby's Brilliant Return Beyond Compare

A comparison to Mario Lemieux is the highest honor, but what Crosby did on Monday night deserves even better.

Penguins Beat Islanders 5-0 In Sidney Crosby's Return

Sid the Kid is back.

That's the message Sidney Crosby sent the entire National Hockey League in his first game with the Penguins since a head injury sidelined him in January, scoring two goals and notching two assists in Pittsburgh's 5-0 win against the Islanders on Monday night at the Consol Energy Center.

Crosby got the Penguins on the board early, tallying his first goal of the season 5:24 into the game on a backhand shot thanks to a setup from linemate Pascal Dupuis, and kept on the attack from there. Later in the period, he assisted on a goal by defenseman Brooks Orpik, then followed with an assist on Evgeni Malkin's goal early in the second period. He capped his breathtaking comeback performance with a backhanded goal early in the second period to lift the Penguins to their twelfth win of the seaason.

"He adds so much to our team," linemate Chris Kunitz told reporters after the game. "Obviously we're excited to have him back and playing at that level."

Crosby logged 15:54 of ice time in his return, almost four minutes more than head coach Dan Bylsma had expected him to play and finished the night with eight shots on goal and wins on 14 of his 21 faceoffs.

The captain also answered questions about how he'd handle contact at game speed by shrugging off a couple of hits, including one by New York's Travis Hamonic that dropped him to the ice early in the first period. This hits had no visible effect on his game, and he shrugged them off without much of a problem.

All and all, Crosby was pleased with his return.

"Just being back out there, I can't even really describe it," Crosby said at his post game press conference. "It was exciting, I was anxious with a lot of different things going through my mind, but the main thing was just enjoying playing and that's something I've missed for the last 10 months, so it's great that we had a good game there, got the win."

The Penguins' captain wasn't the only one putting on a show, however. Marc-Andre Fleury, the game's No. 3 star, earned the 21st shutout of his career with 29 saves and Dupuis finished with three assists. Malkin finished with a goal and an assist.

Naturally, though, the focus on this game now, and on into the future will be on Crosby's spectacular performance, one that Dupuis jokingly told ROOT Sports' Dan Potash after the game still fell short of his expectations.

"Somebody asked me yesterday if I thought Sidney Crosby was going to be on top of his game," Dupuis said. "I predicted five goals, so four points isn't too bad."

The Penguins return to the ice Wednesday when St. Louis visits the Consol Energy Center for a 7:08 p.m. faceoff.

Video: Sidney Crosby's Second Goal In Return To Penguins

Sidney Crosby Scores Second Goal Vs. Islanders

The points just keep on coming.

Already with a goal and two assists, Sidney Crosby kept the cheers alive in his first game back from injury when he scored his second goal of the Penguins game against the Islanders on Monday night at the Consol Energy Center 2:06 into the third period.

Crosby gathered the puck on the near boards, then threw a backhand shot to the net at a sharp angle. It tipped off of a New York defender and into the goal, giving Crosby his fourth point of the night and the Penguins a 5-0 lead as they try to finish off the Islanders.

The goal initially looked like it had been scored by Crosby's linemate, forward Chris Kunitz, but replay showed the puck went from Crosby's stick, off a Islanders player, and behind New York goalie Anders Nilsson.

For more updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh throughout the evening.

Sidney Crosby, Penguins Close Second Period Up 4-0

The Penguins and captain Sidney Crosby are well on their way to win No. 12 on the season as the sixth-year center makes his long-anticipated return to the ice against the Islanders at the Consol Energy Center.

Pittsburgh leads New York 4-0, and Crosby contributed on three of the goals. In the first period, Crosby scored the teams first goal of the game, then assisted on a goal by Brooks Orpik. In the second period, he assisted on Evgeni Malkin's sixth goal of the season, which gave the Pens a 3-0 lead.

Crosby is up to 11:41 of ice time in the game and has registered six shots on goal. He's also won 11 of his 17 faceoffs, good for a .647 win percentage on the night.

Head coach Dan Bylsma said before the game that Crosby would only play about 12 minutes in the game, but in just two periods, he's close to exceeding that total. It'll be interesting to see if the staff decides to shut him down for the finally period with the Penguins comfortably ahead or if they'll see how far Crosby can push his limits by keeping him on a normal schedule.

Sidney Crosby Registers Second Assist Of Return vs. Islanders

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby continued his strong return from a head injury suffered last January when he notched his second assist of the night on Evgeni Malkin's goal against the Islanders on Monday at Consol Energy Center.

After picking up the rebound of his own shot, Crosby tipped the puck to defenseman Kris Letang on the near circle, who unloaded a one time shot on New York goaltender Anders Nilsson. Malkin pounced on the rebound and stuffed it behind Nilsson 3:17 into the second period to give the Penguins a 3-0 lead.

Crosby's numbers on the night are up to a goal and two assists with still half the game left to play. He's also nearing 10 minutes of ice time already.

The Penguins' Steve Sullivan made the score 4-0 with a goal assisted by Evgeni Malkin and James Neal 5:53 into the second period.

For more updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh.

Sidney Crosby Has Active First Period In Return Vs. Islanders

Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma said before Pittsburgh's game against the Islanders on Monday night at the Consol Energy Center that he only expected captain Sidney Crosby to play about 12 minutes in his return from a head injury suffered last January. After one period, however, he's on pace to well exceed that.

Crosby registered 7:10 of ice time in the opening period. He also notched a goal on four shots and assisted on Brooks Orpik's goal late in the period in his seven shifts while winning 71% of his faceoffs. At this rate, Crosby will play well more than 21 minutes, though that pace could be slowed if Pittsburgh continues to build on its two-goal lead. His ice time will certainly be something to keep an eye on either way, however.

"It's good to have him back," Orpik told ROOT Sports' Dan Potash during the first intermission, in what might be the understatement of the season for the Penguins.

Stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh for updates.

Sidney Crosby Notches Assist On Brooks Orpik Goal vs. Islanders

Penguins center and captain Sidney Crosby scored the first goal of his return to the National Hockey League following a head injury last January just 5:24 into the first period of Pittsburgh's game against the Islanders at the Consol Energy Center on Monday night, and he didn't wait long after that to strike again.

Crosby earned an assist on Brooks Orpik's goal, scored 16:29 into the first period, and notched his second point of the night as the Penguins lead the Islanders, 2-0.

After Pascal Dupuis tipped the puck toward the far boards to keep in in the Penguins' offensive end, Crosby looked across the ice and hit Orpik with a crisp pass, which Orpik one-timed into the net behind New York goaltender Anders Nilsson.

The goal caused the crowd to erupt yet again in what has been a great opening period for the Penguins.

Stay tuned for more updates here at SB Nation Pittsburgh.

Video: Sidney Crosby Goal In First Period

Sidney Crosby Takes First Hit Vs. Islanders

For weeks, if not months, many have wondered how Sidney Crosby would react to taking a hit at game-speed following his head injury suffered last January. Fans and media finally got their chance to find out Monday night when Crosby returned to the ice against the Islanders at the Consol Energy Center.

Midway through the first period, Crosby took a shot from New York's Travis Hamonic behind the Islanders' goal. Hamonic shoved Crosby from near the net and the Penguins' captain crumpled to the ice.

Fortunately for the Penguins and their fans, Crosby got right back up and continued skating. He appears to have all the speed fans have come to expect from him in his first six National Hockey League seasons, and it was on full display when he scored his first goal of the season on New York's Anders Nilsson earlier in the first period.

Stay tuned for more updates here at SB Nation Pittsburgh

Penguins vs. Islanders: Sidney Crosby Scores First Goal In Return

Sidney Crosby didn't wait long to announce his return to the National Hockey League with authority.

The Penguins captain, playing his first game in close to a year after a head injury sidlined him last January, scored his first goal of the season 5:24 into Pittsburgh's matchup with the Islanders on Monday night at the Consol Energy Center.

Crosby took a pass from linemate Pascal Dupuis close to center ice, then raced past the Islanders defense to flip a backhand shot into the top right corner of the goal behind New York's Anders Nilsson. Nilsson is making his first career NHL start in goal for the Islanders.

The goal gave Pittsburgh an early 1-0 lead in the first period, and worked the Consol Energy Center into a deafening roar. The atmosphere appears to resemble that of a playoff game as fans rejoice in the return of their captain to the active roster.

Penguins vs. Islanders: Sidney Crosby Gets The Start

In his first game back with the Penguins following a head injury suffered last January, captain Sidney Crosby made his return to the Consol Energy Center ice by taking the first shift in Pittsburgh's game against the Islanders on Monday night.

Crosby took the opening faceoff with Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz as his linemates and Kris Letang and Brooks Orpik as his defensemen with the home crowd whipped into a frenzy.

On the shift, Crosby led a couple of rushes, one of which led to a solid scoring opportunity for Kunitz, but the Penguins were not able to score.

Fans at the Consol Energy Center held "Welcome Back Sid" signs in the stands as he took the ice to a deafening roar.

The game marks the first at Pittsburgh's new arena in which Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal will all be in the same lineup.

Stay tuned for more updates here at SB Nation Pittsburgh.

Sidney Crosby 'Anxious' For Return To Ice Monday Evening

It’s been ten months since Sidney Crosby last skated in an NHL game. Multiple concussions have sidelined the Pittsburgh Penguins star forward since then, but that ends tonight in Pittsburgh when he’ll return to action in Pittsburgh’s Monday night game against the visiting New York Islanders. Despite knowing that yet another head trauma injury could potentially end his career, Crosby insists he’s not afraid, merely anxious, to get back out on the ice with his teammates:

“I think anybody that has gone through this and missed this amount of time, you’ve got to make sure you get involved early and get that first hit under your belt,” Crosby told reporters Monday in Pittsburgh, hours before he was to take to the ice for his first game back.

Crosby last skated on January 5th of last season when he was knocked out with a concussion in the Pens’ game against Tampa Bay. The crushing blow came a mere four days after he was knocked out of the Penguins’ New Year’s Day Winter Classic Game against the Washington Capitals. He missed the remainder of the ‘10-’11 season, and has thus far not appeared in any of Pittsburgh’s 20 games so far in ‘11-’12.

“Everything has gone really smooth here the last little while. I was comfortable with how I felt going through contact. I was very comfortable and confident that I was able to come back. I went through all that stuff and here I am.”

Crosby reportedly will be limited in his return, but that hasn’t stopped one of the game’s brightest, most marketable stars from understanding the magnitude of the moment:

“It’s something I’ve thought about a lot over the last 10 months, so it’s pretty exciting. You don’t always get this anxious for games and this is one I can definitely say I’m anxious and excited for.”

The puck drops in Pittsburgh’s game against the Islanders at 7:00 pm est Monday night. For more pregame coverage, visit Pensburgh, and stay tuned here for in-game updates and post-game analysis and reaction.

Sidney Crosby's Return Transformed A Mundane Day Into A Memorable One

The announcement of Crosby's return has made a lasting memory even before he stepped on the ice.

Sidney Crosby Injury Update: Chris Kunitz, Pascal Dupuis Will Be Crosby's Linemates In Return

As Sidney Crosby prepares to make his return to the Penguins' active roster on Monday night against the Islanders at the Consol Energy Center, coach Dan Bylsma and his staff will have to shuffle the lines around a bit to accommodate him. KDKA's Bob Pompeani tweets the team captain will find some familiar faces on his wings.

Both Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz have skated on Crosby's wings before, so that should help ease the center's transition back to the ice. Dupuis has four goals, 10 assists and is a +7 on the season. Kunitz has seven goals and four assists but is a -2.

Sidney Crosby Injury Update: Captain Will Be Limited In Return

Penguins fans got a whole heap of good news on Sunday afternoon when the team announced former NHL MVP and scoring champion Sidney Crosby will make his return against the Islanders on Saturday at the Consol Energy Center. Those expecting the team's captain to be 100%, however, might be getting a little ahead of themselves as Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review tweets.

"Bylsma" is, of course, Pittsburgh head coach Dan Bylsma. This news shouldn't come as much of a surprise, given it's been almost 11 months since Crosby has played a full game after his injury during January's Winter Classic at Heinz Field. It'll be interesting to see how he responds to game speed

Stay tuned for all the latest on Crosby's return here at SB Nation Pittsburgh.

Sidney Crosby Injury Update: Penguins Center Will Return Monday Against Islanders

Sidney Crosby will make his long-awaited return to the ice on Monday night at Consol Energy Center.