Sidney Crosby to return Thursday

PITTSBURGH, March 13 (UPI) -- Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who missed 40 games dealing with concussion-like symptoms, is to return to game action Thursday, he said.

Crosby has been out of the lineup since Dec. 5 after he reported a recurrence of concussion-like symptoms. He was also diagnosed with a soft-tissue neck injury.

He resumed skating with the team in February and was cleared for contact last week.

"I feel good and the plan is to play Thursday," Crosby said Tuesday. "I had a good practice and I'm looking forward to getting out there Thursday."

The Penguins play the conference-leading New York Rangers on Thursday.

Crosby, 24, missed more than 10 months of play following a concussion in January 2011. He returned Nov. 21, scoring two goals and assisting on two others. But he appeared in just seven more games, getting eight more assists but no goal, before symptoms returned.

Crosby, 24, started his NHL career with the Penguins in 2005. He won the Hart Trophy as league most valuable player in 2007 and he led the NHL in scoring. Pittsburgh won the Stanley Cup with Crosby as captain in 2009 and he was the goal leader in 2010.

Pittsburgh is 42-21-5 for 89 points, which is second-most in the NHL Eastern Conference, this season.