A few shifts. Maybe not even that.

In Sidney Crosby's mind, he and right winger Marian Hossa won't have any trouble clicking as linemates now that they will finally get a chance to try.

"I don't see it being too much time at all," Crosby said yesterday after announcing that he will return to the lineup tonight when the Penguins play the New York Islanders at Mellon Arena.

He has missed the past seven games and 28 of the past 31 because of a high ankle sprain.

"Just get him the puck," Crosby said of Hossa. "He's a great player. I don't know if [people] understand how great he is. It's not hard to play with a guy like that at all. You get him the puck, he's going to make something happen, a lot of times when there's not much there."

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Scouting report

• Matchup: Penguins vs. New York Islanders, 7:38 p.m., Mellon Arena.
• TV, radio: FSN Pittsburgh, WXDX-FM (105.9).
• Probable goaltenders: Marc-Andre Fleury for Penguins. Wade Dubielewicz for Islanders.
• Penguins: Are 6-0-1 in past eight home games. ... Have scored 25 goals in past four home games. ... Ryan Malone has 13 points (7 goals, 5 assists) in past 12 games.
• Islanders: Have lost six of past eight games. ... Have given up four power-play goals over past two games. ... Richard Park's goal vs. Penguins Monday was his first in 28 games.
• Hidden stat: The Islanders have 36 road losses, tied for most in the NHL.

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That's probably an apt description of Crosby, too. Both players work both ends of the ice and have high-end ability to create and score.

Crosby, the defending NHL scoring champion and MVP, has 22 goals, and 67 points in 49 games.

Hossa, a five-time All-Star, has two goals, seven points in seven games with the Penguins; 28 goals, 63 points in 67 games this season.

It has been a day and a month since the Penguins acquired Hossa from Atlanta at the trade deadline with the intention of placing him on Crosby's wing, but the two have had conflicting timetables.

Crosby, hurt Jan. 18, returned for three games early this month, but Hossa was out with a knee injury. When Hossa returned March 16, Crosby was back out of the lineup.

Hossa sat out yesterday's optional practice at Mellon Arena, but he and Crosby likely will be on the ice together for today's morning skate before they get that chance to play together -- probably with Pascal Dupuis on the left wing -- against the Islanders.

The Penguins will be seeking a bit of redemption after a lackluster 4-1 road loss to the Islanders Monday.

"I think we both have a good idea of how each other plays," Crosby said. "He's a guy who is not afraid to go into traffic areas.

"He backchecks a lot. It's easy to play with a guy who's that complete. I don't think I need to change anything or he needs to change anything. We just need to play our style."

Dupuis, who has nine points in his past five games and two goals, 11 points in 11 games since arriving in the same trade with Atlanta, laughed when asked what it would be like to play with Crosby and Hossa.

"I don't know," Dupuis said. "Maybe I'll have to change my game to play with those guys. I'll do what I've got to do. I'll skate hard and I'll play hard."

Crosby doesn't expect to have to change much in regard to coming back from his time off.

"My ankle feels great, and my conditioning is as good as it can get without playing," he said after practicing for about an hour.

"I've just got to go out there, focus on doing the little things and allow myself the best opportunity to adapt as soon as I can. It's not one of those things where you're going to step out there first shift and feel like you haven't missed a beat, but, hopefully, with focusing on those little things, it will come quicker."

When he first returned from his injury March 4 at Tampa Bay, Crosby struggled. He had to skip shifts that game and two nights later at Florida, but he felt a lot stronger March 9 at Washington.

"I was in bad shape when I came back in the Tampa game," Crosby said. "I felt pretty good after Washington, especially for that game, the amount of hits and how physical it was."

But swelling and weakness in his ankle prompted him to step back so that he could try to be in top form for the playoffs.

Those are now just five regular-season games away. With those five games all against Atlantic Division teams, and with the division and Eastern Conference titles at stake, Crosby will be tested.

"It's going to be more physical hockey down the stretch, but I expect to come along a little faster," he said, adding that he is not concerned about aggravating the injury to his right ankle.

"I feel confident," he said. "It's one of those things that it's going to come down to luck, but I feel strong. I feel a lot better than I did coming back the first time, a lot more confident."

And he's thrilled to be coming back.

"Really excited," Crosby said. "This is the time of year you want to play especially, with every game being so big and so important. It's going to be nice to be out there."