Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is playing at least a point per game pace in his NHL regular season again.
Canadian ice hockey player Sidney Crosby is still at his peak at the age of 36.
The captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins scored two goals and one assist against the New York Rangers in a 5–2 victory in the night’s NHL round, reaching his 82nd power point this season.
With a three-point night, Crosby made sure that this season will be the player’s 19th NHL season, when he plays at a point-per-game pace in the regular season.
If Crosby doesn’t score any points in the remaining regular season games of the season, he will still score 82 points in at least 82 games.
The 19th season with a point per game pace is a historic achievement. Only considered the best hockey player of all time Wayne Gretzky has been able to respond, says NHL.
– I knew I was approaching him. It’s pretty cool when you can join him, Crosby joked after the match.
Crosby has never played an NHL regular season below a point per game rate. His single season record for points is 120 from 2006–07. Crosby scored the fewest points in the NHL regular season in the 2011–2012 season. Then there were 37 points, but only in 22 matches.
However, Crosby, who has suffered from several injuries, has only played two full regular season NHL games (82 games). He is currently on his way to his third 82-game regular season.
Crosby now has 1,584 points from 1,264 NHL regular season games, 587 of which are goals.
Crosby is 11th in the NHL’s all-time scoring list. Gretzky, who dominated in the 1980s and 1990s, holds the first place with 2,857 points.
Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan praised Crosby. He was unaware before the game that Crosby is close to Gretzky’s record.
– It is extraordinary to play at the top level for such a long time. All these milestones he has reached are just proof that he is one of the best players of all time, not just of our generation.
Crosby has won, among other things, three Stanley cups, two Olympic gold medals and a world championship. He has been selected as the NHL’s most valuable player twice.
The second hit, a point for Puljujärvi
Crosby’s powerhouse was also hit by a Finn. Rangers Kaapo Kako stretched his point streak to four games by hitting the Pittsburgh net. Kakko scored his team’s narrowing goal to 1–3. The goal is Kako’s 12th of the season.
Kako’s goal came with a great shot, which Alex Nedeljkovic caught his flipper. However, Räpylä went to the goal with the puck. of Pittsburgh Jesse Puljujärvi recorded an assist in the match.