WASHINGTON — Sidney Crosby again got the better of Alex Ovechkin, thanks to a rookie who put the puck into his own net with 28 seconds to play.

Nicklas Backstrom’s attempt to clear the puck went horribly wrong, providing the Pittsburgh Penguins with the winning goal in Sunday’s 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals.

In a crowd in front of the crease, Backstrom looked as if he were wearing the wrong-colored jersey when he got his stick on a rebound and backhanded it past goalie Cristobal Huet.

Backstrom, who wasn’t available for comment after the game, was either hoping to push the puck gently to Huet or forcefully clear it to the side of the net.

Either way, he failed, and the goal was credited as an unassisted score for Crosby, who took the original shot. The puck was close to striking Crosby’s skate on the way into the net, but the Penguins star said he thought it went in clean off Backstrom’s stick.

“We’ve been on the other side of that before. Obviously, it’s not fun,” Crosby said. “It’s a big break for us.”

Full Story… 

TAMPA (AFP) — Sidney Crosby made his return to Pittsburgh’s lineup a memorable one assisting on the game winner as the Penguins beat Tampa Bay 2-0 on Tuesday.

Crosby set up Maxime Talbot’s goal late in the third period and Marc-Andre Fleury made 35 saves.

“I felt pretty good,” Pittsburgh’s captain said. “As the game went on, I got a little more tired.

“It’s been a while since I played a game, and obviously I haven’t really gotten a chance to do tons of skating, so it’s good to get it over with and get that feel and get that timing back.

“But it’s still not there. I had some great chances that I would have loved to put in. It didn’t happen. Sometimes that’s the way it goes. I’m a little rusty.”

Evgeni Malkin added an empty-netter for Pittsburgh (38-23-7), which maintained its one-point lead over New Jersey (38-23-6) atop the Eastern Conference.

Returning from an ankle sprain that sidelined him for 21 games, Crosby had several scoring chances before setting up the winning goal.

But after receiving a drop pass from Talbot at the right point, the Canadian superstar carried the puck into the faceoff circle and passed it to the front of the net, where it hit a skate before caroming to Talbot, who deposited it past goaltender Mike Smith with 2:47 remaining to snap a scoreless tie.

Ironically, Crosby suffered the ankle injury in a 3-0 loss to Tampa Bay on January 18.

Despite being outshot, the Penguins had the best scoring chance in the first period. With 3:48 remaining, Crosby came down on a breakaway but was denied by Smith.

Smith made another strong save on Crosby seven minutes into the third, but Fleury was just as superb with 8:16 remaining, as he stopped All-Star Vincent Lecavalier’s backhander on a breakaway.

Smith made 21 saves for the Lightning, who fell to 1-6-1 in their last eight.

Penguins rising star Jordan Staal suffered bruised ribs in the first period and did not return.

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby, who has missed the last 21 games with a high ankle sprain, is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday, according to a published report.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Crosby will play Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“It’s been a while, so I’m looking forward to it,” Crosby told the newspaper. “I wasn’t expecting anything. I was skating [in Pittsburgh[ last week and it started to feel better. It’s pretty strong right now. I figure it’s time.”

Penguins coach Michel Therrien indicated the team will take a cautious approach with the center.

“We’ll manage his ice time,” Therrien said. “He said he was feeling great, but he hasn’t played for a long time so he is going to trust me and the way I will manage him on the ice.” Full Story…

BOSTON (AP) — Penguins forward Marian Hossa, acquired at the trade deadline from the Atlanta Thrashers, injured his knee in his first game for Pittsburgh and sat out the third period of the game against the Boston Bruins.

Hossa was acquired Tuesday along with forward Pascal Dupuis for forwards Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen, a top prospect and a first-round draft pick.

A five-time All-Star right wing, Hossa has 26 goals and 30 assists in 60 games after tying for sixth in the NHL with 100 points last season.

Sidney Crosby did not practice with the Penguins yesterday, nor did he skate on his own. But the team stressed that there has been no setback to his recovery from a high right ankle sprain and that he remains within the original 6-to-8 week prognosis for a return. “Right now, it’s part of the rehab,” Penguins coach Michel Therrien said. Full Story…

Sidney Crosby is the new face of the NHL. I’ve heard that phrase so many times it now haunts me in my dreams.

But I have a few reservations.

For years everyone has been pondering how to improve the on ice product of the NHL. But what makes us think there is something wrong with the game?

I love it. Everyone I know who follows hockey loves it. Full Story…

Despite his optimism, Crosby was adamant that he has not set a specific game for which he hopes to return.

“If I told you the dates, I probably would have given you eight different dates by now,” he said. “Every day, it changes. You feel good one day, and all of a sudden, you think you’ll be back tomorrow, and the next day, you realize it still needs time.”

The decision on when he will play again, Crosby added, will be made mostly by him, mostly for practical reasons. For while doctors and the medical staff can evaluate the strength and stability of his leg, only he can know precisely how it feels. Full Story…

He joined practice without the non-contact look. It was another move forward in his recovery from a high ankle sprain.

“[It was] kind of a step to see how it went,” said Crosby, who got hurt Jan. 18.

“It went pretty good. It’s still something we’ve got to work through a bit.”

Crosby, who skated hard by himself Friday while the team was off, did the same with his teammates and participated in all the drills. Team physician Charles Burke watched Crosby through the workout. Full Story…

Only 10 skaters participated in the Penguins’ optional skate at RBC Center before their game with Carolina, and Sidney Crosby was among them.  “It’s been tough just kind of sitting around at home,” Crosby said. “It’s good to be back with the guys and get back into the swing of things again.” Full Story…

When team captain and the face of the franchise and NHL, Sidney Crosby, went down with a high ankle sprain, the worst was expected for the Pittsburgh Penguins.  But, the opposite has indeed been true. The Pens have not only survived life without Crosby, but dare I say, thrived. In the 10 games that Crosby has missed the Penguins are 6-2-2, and have taken the lead in the Atlantic Division. Full Story…