Sidney Crosby has surpassed Mario Lemieux as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ all-time scoring leader. Crosby achieved this milestone with a goal and an assist in the Penguins’ 4-3 shootout victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night. Despite this accomplishment, Crosby still holds Lemieux in high regard, considering him the greatest.
With 645 goals and 1,079 assists in 1,387 regular-season games, Crosby has now amassed 1,724 points, moving him into eighth place on the NHL’s all-time points list. His record-breaking goal came in the first period against the Canadiens, where he tipped in a shot from Erik Karlsson to tie the record before breaking it with a power-play goal. The historic moment was celebrated with embraces from his teammates and a congratulatory video message from Lemieux.
The impact of Lemieux’s legacy was evident in the arena as fans listened intently to his message. Lemieux, a Hall of Famer and former Penguins owner, held the franchise’s points record until Crosby’s recent achievement. Despite now leading in points, Crosby remains grateful for the mentorship and influence he received from Lemieux in his early career.
As the franchise’s outright all-time points leader, Crosby stands as the ninth active player to achieve this feat. While trailing Lemieux’s franchise goal record by 45, Crosby ranks third in the NHL’s all-time points list with a single franchise, behind Steve Yzerman and Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings. Additionally, Crosby’s milestone performance included moving up in the NHL’s historical rankings for even-strength goals and assists.
Reflecting on his journey and the impact of Lemieux, Crosby expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play alongside a legend. Despite the records broken and milestones achieved, Crosby remains humble, emphasizing the lasting influence and significance of Lemieux’s contributions to the team and the sport of hockey.