Penguins D Gonchar cleared to return

Feb 11, 2009 - 8:02 PM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar has been cleared to return to the lineup after missing the entire season while recovering from shoulder surgery.

The Penguins expect that Gonchar's return is imminent, but he will not play in Wednesday's game against San Jose.

"It's going to be day by day," said Gonchar, who had surgery to repair cartilage and ligament damage in his left shoulder October 2 after being injured in the Penguins' first preseason game.

"It depends on how I feel. (The doctor) cleared me to play. He said my shoulder was doing well. He's happy with the progress we've made over the last month since the last time I've seen him."

Penguins coach Michel Therrien said he will not exert any pressure on the 34-year-old Gonchar to return to the lineup.

"It's going to be up to Gonch to decide his comeback," Therrien said. "You have to feel comfortable and confident as well."

A four-time All-Star, Gonchar was a key cog on the Penguins' team that reached the Stanley Cup Finals last season. He recorded 65 points to finish second among all defensemen in scoring for the second straight season, then added 14 points in the playoffs.

With the disappointing Penguins three points out of a playoff spot and looking for a spark, Therrien said he will resist the temptation to rush Gonchar back into the lineup.

"(He didn't have) training camp, no exhibition games," Therrien said. "The pace of the game right now is not the same when we opened up the season. We're going to have to be patient with him."