Penguins' Crosby cleared for contact

Sidney Crosby has traded in his white helmet. There's still no telling when the Pittsburgh Penguins star will be able to do the same with his practice jersey.

The former MVP's comeback from concussion-like symptoms took a major step forward Thursday when he was cleared for contact by team doctors for the first time since being injured in January.

Crosby wore a black helmet like the rest of his teammates during a morning skate in Pittsburgh before last night's 3-2 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals. The 24-year-old had been wearing a white helmet during workouts to indicate he wasn't to be touched.

While there were no major collisions, the simple change in headgear is another positive sign that the sport's biggest star is close to returning.

"This is a good step in the right direction and we'll see how it goes the next little bit," he said.

How long that "next little bit" will last remains unclear. Crosby, as he's done for the last 10 months, refused to put a timetable on when he'll be ready to play.

Part of the problem is Pittsburgh's cramped early season schedule. Thursday night's game was the team's fifth in eight days and the next three weeks are nearly as busy, leaving little time for full-contact drills.

"I have to get hit at some point during practice but we're playing so much it's hard to get that right now," Crosby said.

Devils 2, Kings 1: Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise scored shootout goals and the host Devils won their second straight. Johan Hedberg, who replaced an injured Martin Brodeur at the start of the second period, made easy stops on Simon Gagne and Anze Kopitar on the Kings' shootout chances to send Los Angeles to its second straight loss.