Sidney Crosby May Return to Penguins Array for Game 2 Battle with Islanders

The Brand New York Islanders' worst nightmare is now reality: Sidney Crosby is likely to be back on the snow with the Pittsburgh Penguins for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal game. The Penguins announcedAon the team's standard Twitter account that Crosby had been cleared to go back to action. The former group MVP was ruled out of Game 1 by medical practioners on Wednesday, but it did not matter, as the Penguins thrown to a 5-0 victory on home ice. Now, using their leader back and best player in the collapse, the Penguins is likely to be even harder to prevent, even if sniper James Neal remains out of the selection. Crosby, who hasn't suited up since enduring a broken jaw after going for a puck to the face against the Islanders on March 30th, lead the league in scoring until the final week of the season, despite missing the final 12 games of the season. In his absence, Kris Letang, Chris Kunitz and Evgeni Malkin have found the slack offensively, but Crosby's presence isn't something any instructor can replace. Though it remained uncertain whether Crosby would be available for Game 2, it seemed that the 25-year-old superstar was close to returning, given that NHL.com described he was skating with some familiar faces. During the team's day skate Friday, Crosby took line rushes in his usual position, focusing a withAChris KunitzAandAPascal Dupuis. He also worked on the team's top power-play system. Crosby won't have to be outstanding for the Penguins to defeat the Islanders, but assuming Pittsburgh advances with ease, he'll have time to get readjusted to playing at game speed. Although Crosby eventually may not gain the Hart Trophy as league MVP due to missing the most important fraction of the season, thereas no questioning that he'd have if not for the injury, and provided what heas had the opportunity to over come in the past, heall restore that crown in no time. The Penguins was able to hang onto the No. 1 seed in the East with no gameas best player for the last 12 games, so now that heas right back, the path to the Stanley Cup Finals for every Eastern Conference group just got that much more difficult.