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Crosby leads Penguins into Florida

Mar 6, 2008 - 2:11 PM Pittsburgh (38-23-7) at Florida (30-31-8) 7:00 pm EST

SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) - Captain Sidney Crosby returned on Tuesday from a six-week absence. It was as if he had never left.

Crosby will be looking to make it two wins in as a many games when the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Florida Panthers on Thursday.

The All-Star center and reigning MVP suffered a high-ankle sprain against the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 18 and missed 21 games. In his first game back Tuesday, he got his revenge - assisting on the game-winning goal during a 2-0 victory over the Lightning.

Crosby is returning to a team that traded for All-Star Marian Hossa at the deadline and welcomed back top goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury on Sunday.

Fleury, who also missed significant time with a ankle injury, has won both starts since his return. He made 35 saves Tuesday to notch his third shutout of the season and lift Pittsburgh to the top of the Eastern Conference with 83 points.

All-Star Evgeni Malkin, who developed into Pittsburgh's top scoring threat during Crosby's absence, added an empty-net goal against Tampa Bay. He totaled 36 points without Crosby in the lineup and his 89 points this season is second in the NHL.

The Panthers - behind the impressive goaltending of Craig Anderson - have won two games in a row by identical 1-0 scores, including an overtime victory over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old made 53 saves during Sunday's shutout of the New York Islanders, setting an NHL record for most faced by a goalie or team in a shutout since the NHL began tracking such records back in 1955-56.

Anderson, who turned away 40 shots against Boston, has stopped his last 105 shots dating back to a 2-1 overtime win February 23 against Philadelphia. He is 5-5-1 on the season with a 2.18 goals-against average and .936 save percentage.

A microcosm of the Panthers offensive struggles - Olli Jokinen, the team leader with 30 goals and 62 points, has just one goal and four points in the past 12 games.

The Penguins have won all three meetings between the teams, including a 3-2 victory on February 19. Ryan Malone tallied twice in the contest and Malkin added a pair of assists.