PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins have a new record, and it belongs to their captain, Sidney Crosby. In a thrilling match on Sunday, Crosby surpassed Mario Lemieux’s longstanding franchise record for the most assists in the organization’s history, leading the Penguins to a close 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders.
Lemieux, a legendary figure in the team’s history, expressed his admiration for Crosby’s achievement through a statement from the club. “I want to congratulate Sid on setting the team’s assist record,” Lemieux articulated. “He’s an amazing player, and we’re so fortunate to have him in Pittsburgh. I look forward to even more great things from him.”
During the second period of the game, Crosby made his record-breaking play from behind the net, executing a perfect backhand pass to teammate Michael Bunting, who scored on a power play, putting Pittsburgh ahead 2-0. Following the goal, the game paused as the crowd erupted in applause, giving Crosby a heartfelt standing ovation. He waved back to the fans, showing his appreciation for their support.
Reflecting on the moment, Crosby acknowledged, “As the years go on, I think you appreciate those kinds of things a little bit more. It’s not why you play by any means, but to get (the record) and to get that kind of reception, it means a lot.” He shared that the puck from the record-breaking assist would be a special gift for his father.
Currently, Crosby has amassed 1,034 assists, placing him 12th on the NHL’s all-time assist list. Remarkably, only three players — Ray Bourque, Wayne Gretzky, and Steve Yzerman — have achieved more assists with a single team. Over the course of his career, the 37-year-old has participated in 1,310 regular-season games, while Lemieux played in 915.
Crosby expressed deep respect for his predecessors on the assist list, particularly for Mario Lemieux and what he represents to both the city and the franchise. He admitted, “All the guys who have played prior to me, it’s just really nice to be part of that company.”
Crosby further enhanced his record earlier in the week by netting a goal and assisting three others in a commanding 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Flyers, tying the record before officially breaking it against the Islanders. Interestingly, he believed he had already passed the milestone during a previous game against the Islanders, only to have the assist revoked. “It was a little weird the way it went down,” Crosby shared.
Mario Lemieux, who concluded his Hall of Fame career with 1,723 points, was instrumental in leading the Penguins to their first two Stanley Cup victories in 1991 and 1992, while still playing. Crosby, under Lemieux’s ownership, captained the Penguins to three more championships in 2009, 2016, and 2017.
“Sid’s accomplishment, the milestone he’s reached, this is just one more,” remarked Penguins coach Mike Sullivan. “It’s more evidence of an amazing career. He’s one of the best players to ever play.”
