Sports

Energized, relieved Penguins eager to get started with shortened season fast approaching

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby playfully celebrates getting the puck past goalie Marc-Andre Fleury during a player-organized informal NHL hockey workout at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (The Associated Press)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby picks up pucks after an informal NHL hockey workout at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (The Associated Press)

Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins are back at work, eager to put the NHL lockout behind them and focus on making a run at another Stanley Cup.

The Penguins practiced for nearly 90 minutes on Sunday, their first workout as a team since a first-round playoff loss to the Philadelphia Flyers last spring.

The team was greeted by a rousing ovation at a suburban Pittsburgh hockey facility, with more than 500 fans showing up, a sign there appears to be no hard feelings following a four-month work stoppage.

The only player not in camp was forward Evgeni Malkin. The reigning NHL MVP is expected to be on the ice Monday. Malkin spent the lockout playing back home in Russia.

The Penguins open the shortened 48-game season on Saturday in Philadelphia.