"They're obviously, I think, the best team in the league," Sather said Wednesday at the N.H.L. general managers meeting in Boca Raton, Fla.
Crosby will be playing his ninth game since experiencing concussion symptoms after playing consecutive games during the first week of 2011. His first comeback was Nov. 21, when he had two goals and two assists in a 5-0 victory over the Islanders, but it was halted when he was injured in a game Dec. 5 against the Boston Bruins. After three months of rest and treatment and a week of practice, Crosby is ready to try again.
The Rangers are 6 points ahead of Pittsburgh for first place in the Eastern Conference. A Rangers victory in regulation would make them tough to catch. A Penguins win would lead to a tight race in the final dozen games of the regular season.
"With him back, it's certainly going to make it a lot more difficult," Sather said.
The match presents an emotional challenge for the Rangers. In building a 44-18-7 record, the players were constantly urged by Coach John Tortorella to never look past the next game and to never consider one game bigger than any others. When center Brian Boyle was asked for his reaction to Crosby's return, he said, "No reaction." It was evident that Tortorella had his team on message.
But these are hockey players, typically kind souls in a violent game. So Boyle thought a little longer and said: "Look, don't get me wrong. I'm happy for him that he's healthy. But our mentality cannot change and it will not change. When we play against Crosby, we have to play him hard."
Carl Hagelin, the Rangers' breakout rookie wing, sounded a note of caution about the hype causing his team to be overexcited.
"It's always fun to go up against the best player," Hagelin said. "We just have to make sure all our emotion is in the right place and it doesn't lead to us taking penalties. We have to treat every guy like we treat everyone else — get in their face, block shots, hit them hard and clean."
Unlike in his return in November, when he played in all situations, Crosby is expected to have his ice time cut closer to 15 minutes by Penguins Coach Dan Bylsma. He will center Tyler Kennedy and Matt Cooke, subduing expectations, at least at the outset.
"I'll take it more in stride this time and make sure I'm getting better with every game," Crosby said.
But the Rangers took note of how Crosby dominated the Islanders in his first game back in 10 months.
"It doesn't matter if he hasn't played in a while, or even if he's not 100 percent, he's Sidney Crosby," said Rangers wing Marian Gaborik, who is tied for third in the league in goals with 34. "Any time he steps on the ice, we have to be ready for him. It's a very important game for us."
The Rangers also understand Crosby's comeback transcends one game in the regular season.
"It's huge for the league because he's a tremendous player and an ambassador for the game," said forward Mike Rupp, a teammate of Crosby's the previous two seasons before signing with the Rangers last summer. "It's gratifying to see he's back doing what he loves to do. He's a really good person. That's what I enjoy most about him. But the game Thursday, that's just business. Playing him, especially with their entire team running on all cylinders, how can you not be excited about that?"
Sather is counting on it.
"We'll give 'em a fight," he said.
Jeff Z. Klein contributed reporting from Boca Raton, Fla.
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