Sidney Crosby picks up 1,033rd assist, tying Mario Lemieux’s Penguins record
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has once again solidified his place among the elite in NHL history, this time by tying the record for most assists in team history set by his Hall of Fame former teammate, Mario Lemieux.
During Monday’s 7-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, Crosby made a backhand pass to Philip Tomasino for a power-play goal in the first period, marking his 1,033rd career assist and matching Lemieux’s record. This milestone now ranks Crosby and Lemieux 12th in NHL history for most assists, with only three players in league history having more assists with a single team.
In a post-game interview, Crosby humbly expressed his gratitude for reaching this milestone alongside Lemieux, stating, “To be with Mario, though, that’s pretty cool. I never would have expected that. So, that’s just a bonus.”
Crosby’s exceptional performance didn’t stop there, as he also scored an empty-net goal in the third period and assisted on goals by Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust in the first period, totaling four points for the game. This marked Crosby’s 42nd four-point game of his career and his second in three games. So far this season, Crosby has recorded 10 goals and 39 points in 36 games.
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan spoke highly of both Crosby and Lemieux, emphasizing their impact on the game and the team’s success. “Mario’s one of the greatest players of all time, as is Sid,” Sullivan said. “Their legacies continue to grow.”
Mario Lemieux, who finished his Hall of Fame career with 1,723 points, led the Penguins to their first two Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992 as a player. He later owned the team when Crosby captained the Penguins to championships in 2009, 2016, and 2017, solidifying their legacies as two of the best players in NHL history.
As Crosby continues to etch his name in the record books alongside Lemieux, it’s clear that his impact on the game and the Penguins’ success is unmatched. Fans can only anticipate more historic moments from Crosby as he cements his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time.
