March 27th

CROSBY SET TO RETURN TONIGHT

Injured Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will be back in the lineup Thursday when Pittsburgh visits the New York Islanders.

Crosby, who missed 27 of his team's 30 last contests and the last seven in a row with a sprained ankle, took part in Monday's pre-game skate but didn't end up playing against the Islanders. He also sat out Wednesday's 2-0 win over the New Jersey Devils.

Crosby said he feels much better than he did earlier in the month when he returned for three games, and he thinks there is less chance of aggravating the injury this time around.

He ranks second in team scoring with 22 goals and 67 points in 49 games this season, but the Penguins have hardly missed a beat without him. Pittsburgh sports a 16-8-4 in Crosby's absence, including 5-2 in the past seven, and have clinched a playoff spot.


SUTTER SIGNS WITH 'CANES

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed centre Brandon Sutter, the team's girst pick of the 2007 Entry Draft, to a three-year contract.

Sutter, selected with the 11th overall pick last summer, will join Carolina's AHL affiliate in Albany.

"We're excited about signing Brandon," said Hurricanes president and general manager Jim Rutherford. "We look forward to his continued development, and watching him work his way toward playing with the Hurricanes."

Sutter just completed his third full season with Red Deer of the Western Hockey League and finished with team highs of 26 goals and 49 points. He posted 68 goals and 154 points in 205 regular-season WHL games.

The 19-year-old is the son of former NHL player and current New Jersey Devils head coach Brent Sutter.


SAVARD HAS BROKEN BACK

Boston Bruins leading scorer Marc Savard suffered a broken bone in his back after bring cross-checked by Canadiens forward Steve Begin in Boston 3-2 loss Saturday in Montreal.

According to the Boston Herald, the cracked bone is called a transverse process, one that protrudes from a vertebra and serves to attach muscles and ligaments. Savard sat out Tuesday's 6-2 win at Toronto, and will miss at least one more game with the injury.

In 74 games this year, Savard has posted 15 goals and 63 assists for a team best 78 points.