Sidney Crosby ties Mario Lemieux for most assists in Penguins franchise history

Sidney Crosby scored a goal and added three assists on Monday night, helping the Pittsburgh Penguins defeat the Philadelphia Flyers 7-3, all while making history.

Crosby’s third assist was the 1,033th helper of his career, tying him with Mario Lemieux for the most in Penguins history.

“I dreamed of playing in the NHL, and I am grateful for that,” Crosby said after the game. “But I don’t think about where I am on the list. To be with Mario, though, that’s pretty cool. I never would have expected that. So, that’s just a bonus.”

Along with his 1,033 assists, Crosby has 602 goals for a total of 1,635 points. He is No. 2 behind Lemieux for goals and points, as the Hall of Fame center finished his career with 690 goals, 1,033 assists and 1,723 points.

What makes Lemieux’s numbers even more impressive is that he played in just 915 career regular-season games, 393 less than Crosby.

The 37-year-old Crosby has 10 goals and 29 assists for 39 points in 36 regular-season games this season. He’s 10 points ahead of second-place Evgeni Malkin, who’s been Crosby’s teammate since the 2006-07 season.

Ahead of the 2024-25 season, Crosby and the Penguins agreed to terms on a two-year, $17.4 million deal that will pay the Pittsburgh captain $8.7 million per year through the 2026-27 season.

“There are no words to properly describe what Sidney Crosby means to the game of hockey,” Penguins’ General Manager Kyle Dubas said. “Sidney is the greatest player of his generation and one of the greatest players in the history of the game.”

The Penguins are 16-15-5 with 37 points, one point shy of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Their next game is Dec. 28 when they face the New York Islanders.