PITTSBURGH — In a night that will be etched in the annals of Pittsburgh Penguins history, Sidney Crosby achieved a monumental milestone by breaking Mario Lemieux‘s franchise scoring record. Crosby’s stellar performance featured a goal and an assist in the first period of the Penguins’ thrilling 4-3 shootout victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night.
Entering the game just one point shy of Lemieux’s longstanding record, Crosby seized his moment with precision. His tally brought his career totals to an impressive 645 goals and 1,079 assists, compiling 1,724 points over 1,387 games. This remarkable achievement not only elevated him above Lemieux but also positioned him as the eighth-highest points scorer in NHL history.
In a flash of brilliance, Crosby tipped Erik Karlsson‘s point shot at 7:58 of the first period, equalizing Lemieux’s record. Just minutes later, with 7:20 remaining in the frame, he broke the record during a power play. Crosby’s shot deflected off Bryan Rust before Rickard Rakell poked in the rebound, triggering an emotional celebration among teammates.
In a touching tribute, a video message from Lemieux was played shortly thereafter. “I knew when we played together in 2005, that you were going to be a very special player,” Lemieux expressed. “Here we are, 20 years later, you are now one of the best to ever play the game.” This acknowledgement from a franchise legend added a layer of significance to Crosby’s achievement.
From one 🐐 to another. pic.twitter.com/M3drq86PqV
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 22, 2025
Lemieux, a Hall of Famer and former owner of the Penguins, became the franchise’s all-time points leader back on January 20, 1989, when Crosby was just 17 months old. Remarkably, Lemieux played alongside Crosby when he recorded his very first NHL point and concluded his own career with 1,723 points over 915 games.
Reflecting on their profound connection, Crosby stated, “I have so much appreciation for having the opportunity to play with him, live with him and learn from him. You never expect you’re going to make it to the NHL, let alone play with him. He was a big part of helping me out and a huge influence on me.”
Crosby, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft, is not only the seventh outright all-time points leader in the franchise’s 58-year history, but he’s also the ninth active player to lead a franchise in scoring. Last December, he had already broken Lemieux’s record for most assists in franchise history during a game against the New York Islanders. Currently, Crosby is just 45 goals short of Lemieux’s all-time franchise record of 690 goals.
From an all-time franchise standpoint, Crosby ranks third on the NHL’s all-time points list for a single franchise, trailing only Steve Yzerman (1,755 points) and Gordie Howe (1,809 points), both of whom spent their entire careers in Detroit.
Additionally, Crosby surpassed Phil Esposito (449 goals) to take sole possession of the ninth-most even-strength goals in NHL history and tied Adam Oates for the eighth-most assists in NHL history. With 20 goals this season, Crosby has recorded his 18th season with at least 20 goals, a feat achieved by only six other players in NHL history.
As for the Penguins, this victory came as a much-needed boost, snapping an eight-game losing streak. Although Crosby participated in the shootout, he did not find the back of the net, but his contribution to the team was unmistakable.
Crosby’s reflections on his time with Lemieux reveal the depth of their bond: “Having an opportunity to play on the same line and connect on a few goals… those are things that I’ll always remember. The impact he’s had on me, this team, and hockey in general is pretty amazing.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.