Pittsburgh (34-18-15) is tied for second in the Metropolitan Division. It went 5-3-3 without Crosby.
“It’s great to have him back,” Penguins coach Dan Muse said. “The work that he’s put in to be back. Even when he’s out of the lineup, he’s making a major impact on this group, just with his leadership, just being around the group. I can’t speak enough about how much of an impact he makes on an every day basis. You saw it even during the stretch when he was out of the lineup.
“So now to have him back, it’s obviously exciting for him, exciting for us.”
In his 21st NHL season, Crosby, the Penguins captain, leads them with 59 points (27 goals, 32 assists) in 56 games.
Named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players at the League’s Centennial celebration in 2017, Crosby has won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP twice (2006-07, 2013-14), the Ted Lindsay Award as MVP as voted by the NHL Players’ Association three times (2006-07, 2012-13, 2013-14), the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL scoring leader twice (2006-07, 2013-14) and the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy for leading the League in goals twice (2009-10, 2016-17).
“He is irreplaceable and if you get him back in your lineup, you get so much better in a quick instant,” defenseman Kris Letang said. “We’re happy that he’s on the right path.”
Pittsburgh is 2-1-1 on its five-game road trip and is coming off a 7-2 win against the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche on Monday.
“It’s never easy watching, but I think you gain even more appreciation when you’re (out of the lineup),” Crosby said. “You just see on a nightly basis the way we work, the way we compete. Just coming back in games, a lot of different things. Just want to jump in there and contribute the best I can.”