Penguins C Crosby returns vs. Islanders

Mar 28, 2008 - 5:52 AM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- After missing the last seven games with a sore right ankle, Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby finally got back in the lineup.

Crosby returned to the ice Thursday as the Penguins skated to a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders.

The Penguins captain took 20 shifts in the game, playing a total of 20 minutes, 25 seconds and registering three shots on goal. The 20-year-old did not record a point, however.

More importantly, Crosby did not feel any discomfort in his ankle.

"It feels a lot better," he said. "My timing's still not there, but as far as the ankle goes, it feels OK. It won't be an issue."

Pittsburgh (45-26-7) clinched a playoff spot with Tuesday's 2-0 victory over New Jersey and moved one point ahead of idle Montreal (43-24-10) for first overall in the Eastern Conference with Thursday's triumph.

The reigning Hart Trophy winner, Crosby missed 21 games after suffering a sprained right ankle while crashing into the boards against the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 18.

Crosby, the league's leading scorer at the time of his injury, returned on March 4. The Nova Scotia native might have come back too soon, however, as soreness in the ankle forced him to sit again after playing in just three contests.

The 20-year-old Crosby has 22 goals and 45 assists in 50 games this season. He collected two tallies and four points in his three-game return from March 4-9.