PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (AFP) - Sidney Crosby made his much anticipated return for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, but teammate Jarkko Ruutu stole the show.

Ruutu scored a goal and set up two others, and Georges Laraque added a tally and an assist as Pittsburgh welcomed Crosby back from injury with a 3-1 National Hockey League victory over the New York Islanders.

Crosby, the team captain, had missed seven games with a sore right ankle. The reigning Hart Trophy winner originally suffered a high ankle sprain against Tampa Bay on January 18 and missed 21 contests before returning on March 4.

Crosby played just over 20 minutes but didn't factor in Pittsburgh's scoring.

Finland's Ruutu, who came in with just 13 points in 66 games this season, starred for the Penguins, assisting on Evgeni Malkin's goal less than seven minutes into the contest before snapping a 1-1 tie late in the second period with a shorthanded goal.

Early in the third, Ruutu made a chip pass in the slot to Laraque, who skated in alone and lifted the puck over goaltender Wade Dubielewicz.

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