Lineup Return: Crosby, Murray, McGinn

News and notes from tonight’s NHL lineup announcements:

• The reigning NHL MVP Sidney Crosby makes his season debut tonight with the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Florida Panthers. Crosby missed the first six games of the season with a concussion he suffered in preseason practice. His early return must alleviate concerns the organization had with his recovery, given that Crosby missed 101 games over two seasons with concussions and related issues. Crosby will make his debut centering Scott Wilson and Patric Hornqvist.
• The Pittsburgh Penguins regain another key piece to their Stanley Cup winning team as Matt Murray will dress for tonight’s game. Murray is slated to back up Marc-Andre Fleury tonight, and could start as early as Thursday against the New York Islanders. Murray missed Pittsburgh’s first six games as he recovered from a broken hand suffered in the World Cup of Hockey. Originally slated as the Penguins third-string goalie last year, Murray eclipsed backup Jeff Zatkoff when Fleury went down with injury, and maintained the starting role throughout the playoffs—despite Fleury returning to the team.
• Jamie McGinn will play his first game tonight for the Arizona Coyotes, the team announced, after signing a three-year, $10MM contract this offseason. McGinn was sidelined since the beginning of the season with an upper body injury and was placed on Injured Reserve retroactive to October 5th. The Coyotes waived Jamie McBain today to make room for McGinn’s return. McGinn is a hard-nosed player with soft hands—he scored 22G and 17A in 84 games last season between Buffalo and Anaheim.