Hockey

Pittsburgh’s Mario Lemieux skated and plans to play tonight when the Penguins open a four-game home stand against the Patrick Division-leading Washington Capitals.

Lemieux has sat out the Penguins’ last three games because of back and hip pain. Doctors say he probably will be bothered by back spasms for the rest of his playing career.

Coach Scotty Bowman said Lemieux’s hip pain, which was more bothersome to him last week than the back spasms, was traced to a muscle. Bowman said Lemieux has responded to physical therapy.

“They said 80 percent of the muscle tightness in the hip was relieved,” Bowman said.