Injured All-Star Crosby Fully Healed, Will Return Thursday At Home Against Isles

Pittsburgh, PA (AHN) - All-Star Sidney Crosby plans to return on Thursday when the Pittsburgh Penguins face the New York Islanders, an encouraging news for a team which is chasing the best overall mark in the Eastern Conference.

Crosby has missed the Penguins' 28 of the last 31 games, including seven straight, because of a high ankle sprain, but had been in team practice for several times. Still, it was only until Thursday that he finally gave it a go.

"I feel strong. I feel a lot better than I did coming back the first time, a lot more confident," said Crosby, who was the NHL's scoring champion last season.

Crosby was initially injured on January 18 and returned on March 4 at Tampa. But he aggravated the injury on March 9 against Washington and has not played since.

The Penguins have five games left on the schedule and would need all the wins and points available to overtake first-running Montreal in the East. They trail the Canadiens by only one point and has a four-point cushion against the New Jersey Devils for the Atlantic Division crown.