Sidney Crosby returns Thursday night on NBC Sports Network

Penguins captain takes ice for first time since December against Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden

Sidney Crosby returns to the ice for the first time since Dec. 5, 2011 as his Pittsburgh Penguins, second in points in the Eastern Conference (89), travel to New York to take on the Eastern Conference-leading New York Rangers (95) at Madison Square Garden at 7 p.m. on newly added coverage on the NBC Sports Network.

Beginning Thursday, the NBC Sports Group will present 12 live NHL or college hockey games over the next seven days. Crosby's Penguins will be featured twice across the platforms of the NBC Sports Group, including Sunday's "NHL Game of the Week" on NBC at their in-state rival Philadelphia Flyers; the Rangers will appear three times, all at home; and the San Jose Sharks, fighting to make the playoffs in the Western Conference, will also appear three times. The bonus Thursday night game also means that the NBC Sports Group will air 11 straight nights of live hockey action dating from Sunday, March 11, through Wednesday, March 21.