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Crosby questionable as Penguins face Rangers

Jan 28, 2009 - 11:30 AM NY Rangers (29-16-4) at Pittsburgh (23-21-4), 7:30 pm EST

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Penguins hope to have their superstar captain back when they return from the All-Star break.

Sidney Crosby is listed as questionable as the Penguins face the rival New York Rangers on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old Crosby, who is nursing a knee injury, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Tuesday that he expects to play. He did not play in Sunday's midseason gala despite being voted into the starting lineup.

It was a similar situation when the last time these clubs met on January 18. Crosby was questionable for that contest and came back to help the Penguins post a 3-0 victory.

Despite Crosby and fellow All-Star Evgeni Malkin combining for 36 goals and 150 points, the first half of the season has not gone as expected for Pittsburgh.

The Penguins are coming out of the All-Star break looking up at the playoffs, sitting in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings - two points behind the eighth-place Florida Panthers (22-17-8).

The Rangers are coming off a 3-2 triumph over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. Seeking a third straight victory, New York will likely send All-Star Henrik Lundqvist back to the crease.

Lundqvist, who surrendered six goals during the second period of the midseason gala, is 24-13-3 with a 2.53 goals-against average and .914 save percentage. The 26-year-old Swede has won four of his last five starts, with the lone loss coming against Pittsburgh.

Scott Gomez scored a goal and set up another and Markus Naslund had two assists Tuesday for the Rangers, who have won three of their four meetings with the Penguins.