Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma, left, talks with captain Sidney Crosby (87) during NHL hockey practice in Canonsburg, Pa., Tuesday, April 30, 2013.Gene J. Puskar/The Associated Press
Sidney Crosby will return to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup tonight.
The Penguins tweeted that their captain will suit up against the New York Islanders for Game 2 of their Eastern Conference quarter-final.
He's been out of the lineup since March 30 with a broken jaw.
"I'm cleared to play tonight," Crosby said. "I'm excited to get back in there and play in the playoffs.
"(The doctor) was around and I wasn't sure if he would give me the okay or even consider it. I'm happy that he did and happy to be back. ... He's comfortable with me getting hit at this point. That's the biggest thing. He has to be comfortable putting me out there. To hear him say that allows me to be comfortable, too."
The Penguins opened the best-of-seven series Wednesday with a 5-0 win over the Islanders.
Despite missing 12 games, Crosby still finished tied for third in the NHL scoring race with 56 points.
He has torched the Islanders throughout his career, scoring 20 goals adding 55 assists against them, the most points has against any team.
More to come