Crosby to return to Penguins on Thursday

Pittsburgh Penguins star center Sidney Crosby, sidelined for most of the past 14 months by concussion injuries, said on Tuesday that he will return to the National Hockey League team's line-up on Thursday. "I feel good and the plan is to play Thursday," Crosby said after taking part in a Penguins practice session on Tuesday. "I got a good practice and I'm looking forward to getting out there Thursday." The Penguins captain will join Pittsburgh on the road at the New York Rangers, who own the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Rangers have 93 points off 43 triumphs, with the Penguins next at 89 points off 42 victories. Pittsburgh will also visit New Jersey on Saturday and Philadelphia on Sunday in other games against Atlantic Division rivals who are hot on the Penguins' heels in the race for play-off spots with 14 games remaining in the campaign. Crosby, whose over-time goal in the title game gave Canada the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic gold medal, suffered a 10-month lay-off after two blows to the head in January of last year left him with concussion and symptoms such as dizziness and headaches. The 24-year-old Canadian got off to his best season start with 32 goals in 41 games before being sidelined for 61 consecutive games over two seasons. Crosby scored twice in his 2011-12 season debut last November 21 but did not score another goal before feeling his symptoms return on December 6 after only eight games back in the line-up, forcing him out once again until now.