Crosby Eyes 1,400th NHL Game, Aims for Penguins’ Playoff Comeback
Sidney Crosby is set to play in his 1,400th NHL game, aiming for a playoff comeback with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The captain is a key figure for the team, holding the record for the most assists in franchise history with 1,089. He also ranks second in goals, netting 651, just behind Mario Lemieux’s 690.
Crosby’s Career Achievements
Crosby continues to climb the all-time points leaderboard. He is currently eighth with 1,735 points. Next in sight are hockey legends Steve Yzerman (1,755), Marcel Dionne (1,771), and Ron Francis (1,798). Should he reach 1,800 career points, he would join the ranks of Wayne Gretzky, Jaromir Jagr, Mark Messier, and Gordie Howe.
Recent Performance
In a recent matchup, Crosby contributed to a 6-3 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers, scoring a goal and making an assist. This performance marked his 19th season with at least 50 points, tying him with Alex Ovechkin and Gretzky for the sixth-most in NHL history.
However, not every game ended in triumph. In another contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Crosby scored a tying goal with just over a minute left in regulation, but the Penguins ultimately fell in a shootout, 4-3.
Statistics and Milestones
- Crosby is on pace to score 45 goals this season.
- This would be the highest total for a player aged 38 or older, surpassing previous records held by Gordie Howe and Alex Ovechkin.
- He has only missed two games in the last four seasons.
- Crosby could achieve 90 points for the fourth consecutive season.
Team Outlook
Crosby emphasizes the importance of team performance over individual statistics. With the Penguins fighting for playoff positioning, he stated, “It’s just how important the games are…and things like that, I think that’s really what it’s all about.”
As Crosby approaches this milestone, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely, eager to see if he can lead the Penguins back to playoff contention while continuing his historic scoring ascent.
