PITTSBURGH — In an exciting matchup on Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins secured a 5-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, thanks in large part to captain Sidney Crosby, who recorded a goal and two assists. This performance has propelled him into ninth place on the NHL’s all-time scoring list, matching the total of 1,641 points previously held by Hall of Famer Joe Sakic. Crosby assisted on Bryan Rust’s goal in the first period before helping Drew O’Connor find the back of the net, establishing a commanding 4-1 lead for his team shortly thereafter.
Rust also shined in this game, contributing a goal and two assists as the Penguins snapped a three-game losing streak. Their impressive win marks the first time they have bested the Oilers since December 20, 2019. Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic made 40 saves, while Rickard Rakell added his season-leading 21st goal. The Penguins demonstrated resilience while playing without injured center Evgeni Malkin.
On the other side, Connor McDavid collected three assists for Edmonton, while Leon Draisaitl scored twice, elevating his season tally to an NHL-leading 31 goals. However, the Penguins were relentless, finding the back of Stuart Skinner’s net four times in the initial 14 minutes of the game. Skinner managed to regroup and ended with 21 saves, but it was insufficient to halt the Penguins, which ended the Oilers’ four-game winning streak.
Key takeaways from the match include the Oilers’ shaky attention to detail in the first period, as Skinner struggled to fend off Pittsburgh’s offensive onslaught. Despite this, the Penguins showcased their ability to contend against top-tier teams, highlighting their ongoing progress as the season unfolds.
A pivotal moment occurred when Crosby scored his 12th goal early in the second period, extending Pittsburgh’s lead to 5-1 and providing crucial breathing room for a team that has previously had difficulty maintaining leads.
In terms of milestones, Crosby now requires just 80 more points to tie Penguins legend Mario Lemieux, who holds the eighth spot with a career total of 1,723 points.
Looking ahead, the Oilers will conclude their four-game road trip against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Penguins will continue their five-game homestand the same day, facing off against the Ottawa Senators.
