Penguins D Gonchar, LW Fedotenko return vs. Maple Leafs

Feb 15, 2009 - 12:20 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- After missing his team's first 56 games while recovering from shoulder surgery, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar made his season debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.

Also returning for the Penguins was left wing Ruslan Fedotenko, who was sidelined 15 games with a hand injury.

Gonchar, 34, underwent surgery to repair cartilage and ligament damage in his left shoulder on October 2 after being injured in a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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 in the playoffs.

Fedotenko suffered his injury in a fight with former Penguin Colby Armstrong during a 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on January 6.

A 30-year-old native of the Ukraine, Fedotenko has recorded 11 goals and 10 assists in 39 games this season.