The Trib’s Josh Yohe tweets that Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will return to game action Saturday night in New York against the Rangers. The Pens’ official Twitter account confirms this:
BREAKING NEWS: Sidney Crosby will play Thursday against the New York Rangers. #Pens
Crosby has been out since December 5 with concussion symptoms that have consumed much of his past two seasons, and also an injury in the soft tissue of his neck. After nearly a year-long absence, Crosby returned to the Pens on November 21 and instantly changed the dynamic of his team, posting two goals and two assists against the New York Islanders in his first game back and racking up 12 points in eight games.
This time, the Penguins are already on a nine-game winning streak, so adding Crosby just makes them that much more formidable. That’s a good thing, too, because in addition to starting the playoffs in about a month, they have a tough string of games ahead against the Rangers, Devils and Flyers.
The Penguins cleared Crosby for contact last week, with the idea that he would return shortly, and that his return would be announced a day before the game when it would take place. That’s exactly what happened.
For more on the Penguins, check out PensBurgh, which already has its comments on Crosby’s return:
Crosby’s latest return will be a shot in the arm for a team that has won nine straight games and is trying to make ground on the first place Rangers. With the playoffs starting in four weeks, the Pens could be major contenders if Crosby and defenseman Kris Letang (also suffering from his second concussion of the season) can be 100% and stay in the lineup.