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.