Sidney Crosby’s been a major part of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ improbable comeback this season.
And in what was a tight battle against the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, Crosby had a grand performance.
With a goal and two assists on Thursday night, the 36-year-old takes sole possession of 10th place in the NHL’s top 10 scorers all-time, with 1,591. He passes Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Esposito, a two-time Hart Trophy winner and two-time Stanley Cup champion who had 1,590 points in 1,282 games. Crosby equalled and passed his points total in 13 fewer games.
Crosby is also just the 14th player in NHL history to record 1,000 career assists. His milestone assist came in overtime when the Penguins needed it most.
ERIK KARLSSON KEEPS PITTSBURGH'S PLAYOFF HOPES ALIVE! 🙌
His @Energizer OT winner gives the @penguins a HUGE two points! pic.twitter.com/bkbOGheTwg
— NHL (@NHL) April 12, 2024
Rickard Rakell crashed the net and tried to score up high, but Red Wings goalie Alex Lyon raised his shoulder to block the shot. Crosby then skated in to win a puck battle before feeding defenseman Erik Karlsson with a backhand pass in the high slot. Karlsson wired a slapshot that beat Lyon blocker-side to end the game.
The Penguins needed that extra point to move into the second wild-card spot, taking that opportunity away from the Red Wings. Pittsburgh now has 86 points in 79 games, while the Red Wings are tied in points (85) and games played (79) with the Washington Capitals. The Philadelphia Flyers won their game against the New York Rangers to also reach 85 points, but they’ve played an extra match.
“This is fun,” Crosby told reporters post-game. “This is a fun time of year and some big games, so obviously happy to be in the top 10, but like you said, just getting a big two points and still being in it here is a lot of fun, too.”
More to come.
Related: Sidney Crosby’s MVP Season Should Get Him An Award This Year — But It’s Not the Hart Trophy
News Summary:
- Penguins' Sidney Crosby Reaches Two Significant Milestones in a Crucial Win
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