The waiting game is over for Sidney Crosby.
The Pittsburgh Penguins superstar captain will make his season debut on Saturday against the visiting New Jersey Devils, coach Mike Sullivan announced.
Crosby, who is recovering from wrist surgery on Sept. 8, reportedly has been making progress over practice this week.
Fellow forward Jeff Carter will also return to action on Saturday after missing the team’s last three games while in COVID-19 protocol.
“We’re just a much better hockey team when they’re in our lineup,” Sullivan said. “We’re excited to have them back. It gives us more depth. It makes our power play more dangerous. It makes matchups more difficult for our opponents. It has a ripple effect on our whole team.”
The Penguins (3-2-2) could use the reinforcements after dropping back-to-back four-goal decisions. They sustained a 5-1 setback to Tampa Bay on Tuesday and a 4-0 defeat to Calgary two nights later.
Crosby, 34, has recorded 1,325 points (486 goals, 839 assists) in 1,039 games since being selected by the Penguins with the top overall pick of the 2005 NHL Draft. He is a three-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time Hart Trophy recipient.
Carter, 36, has one goal and three assists in four games this season.
He has 400 goals and 366 assists in 1,098 career games with the Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings and Penguins. He was the 11th overall pick of the 2003 NHL Draft by the Flyers.
–Field Level Media
