TAMPA, Fla. - Maybe his shooting touch was a little off, and his legs grew weary after being injured so long. No matter, Sidney Crosby looked as though he had never been away.

Just as importantly for the Pittsburgh Penguins, so did goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

Crosby missed scoring chance after scoring chance before finally setting up Maxime Talbot for the game's first goal with only 2:47 remaining. The Pittsburgh star made a dazzling return in his first game in 6 1/2 weeks, leading the Penguins' 2-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night.

Fleury, in only his second start following his own extended injury layoff with a bad ankle, turned aside 35 shots in his first shutout since Nov. 24 and third of the season. Evgeni Malkin, edging to within a point of the NHL scoring lead, scored into an empty net with five seconds remaining.

But it was Crosby's night.