Sidney Crosby Sets Franchise Record for Most Assists in Penguins History

On Sunday, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby made history by breaking Mario Lemieux’s franchise record for most assists in team history. This momentous occasion took place during the second period of the game against the New York Islanders.

The record-breaking assist occurred when Crosby, positioned behind the net, made a beautiful backhand pass to Michael Bunting, who scored a power-play goal at 1:36, giving the Penguins a 2-0 lead. The crowd erupted in applause as Crosby received a standing ovation and waved his glove in acknowledgment of the support from the hometown fans.

With this assist, Crosby now has a total of 1,034 assists, ranking him 12th in NHL history. He joins the elite company of legends like Ray Bourque, Wayne Gretzky, and Steve Yzerman as one of the few players to have recorded over a thousand assists with a single team.

Prior to this milestone, Crosby had an outstanding performance during a 7-3 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers, where he scored a goal and tallied three assists to tie Lemieux’s record. Despite thinking he had broken the record in a recent game against the Islanders, an assist was later retracted, delaying the historic moment.

Mario Lemieux, a hockey icon who amassed 1,723 points over his Hall of Fame career, led the Penguins to their first two Stanley Cup victories in 1991 and 1992 as a player. He later became the team’s owner and witnessed Crosby guide the Penguins to three more championships in 2009, 2016, and 2017.

Currently, Crosby is on a hot streak with two goals and 13 points in his last eight games, showcasing his exceptional skill and leadership on the ice.