Sidney Crosby will be back in the Pittsburgh Penguins' lineup Saturday night against the New Jersey Devils.
The star center missed the Penguins' first seven games of 2021-22 after undergoing wrist surgery in the offseason.
Crosby was on a minimum six-week return timeline after having the procedure performed Sept. 8. That would've put the 34-year-old on track to return last Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the Penguins exercised some extra caution with their captain.
Pittsburgh went 3-2-2 without Crosby while also missing Evgeni Malkin due to offseason knee surgery. Jeff Carter will play Saturday after sitting out the last three games in COVID-19 protocol, according to Penguins team reporter Michelle Crechiolo.
The Penguins have been severely shorthanded to begin the campaign, as their No. 1 defenseman, Kris Letang, remains out after missing the last three contests while in the protocol as well.
Crosby ranked 10th in the NHL with 62 points over 55 games last season.
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