In a moment that will be etched into Pittsburgh Penguins and NHL lore, Sidney Crosby has officially become the franchise's all-time scoring leader. The historic achievement came during a 4-3 shootout victory over the Montreal Canadiens at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday, December 21, 2025.
A Record Decades in the Making
With a goal and an assist in the first period, the 38-year-old captain surpassed the legendary Mario Lemieux, whose record of 1,723 points had stood since January 20, 1989. At the time that record was set, Crosby was just 17 months old. His milestone assist, which came on a goal by Rickard Rakell, gave him 1,724 career points (645 goals, 1,079 assists) through 1,387 games in his 21st NHL season, all with Pittsburgh.
The record-tying goal, Crosby's team-leading 20th of the season, was scored at 7:58 of the opening period. Less than five minutes later, he made history with the primary assist. The win also snapped an eight-game losing streak (0-4-4) for the Penguins, who were coming off consecutive shutout losses.
More Than Just a Record Night
Crosby's season continues to defy age. He is now on pace for 46 goals, which would break the record for most goals in a single season by a 38-year-old, currently shared by Alex Ovechkin and Gordie Howe at 44. This also marks his 18th career season with at least 20 goals, a feat only six other players in league history have accomplished more times.
Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes, making the start, became an inadvertent part of the historic moment. "Look at the bright side," the article noted, "Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes can now say he was part of history and becomes the Jeopardy answer to a Crosby trivia question."
Canadiens' Perspective and Game Notes
For the visiting Canadiens, the night was a mix of a hard-fought point and witnessing history. Ivan Demidov and Noah Dobson scored for Montreal, with newcomer Samuel Blais—playing his first regular-season game with the Habs after a circuitous journey through waivers and the AHL—picking up an assist in just over eight minutes of ice time.
Montreal coach Martin St. Louis shared a poignant personal story about Crosby's character, recalling how the superstar stopped to offer condolences before a playoff game in 2014 after St. Louis's mother had passed away. "Sid's an unbelievable hockey player, but he's also probably a better human, too," St. Louis told reporters.
Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki acknowledged his line's need to be better in the close loss, while Juraj Slafkovsky, who extended his point streak and hit the crossbar in overtime, lamented the missed opportunity for the second point.
The game featured several notable moments beyond Crosby's record, including a massive hit by Josh Anderson on Penguins rookie Rutger McGroarty, and diminutive defenseman Lane Hutson knocking down the much larger Justin Brazeau in a defensive display.
Crosby's ascension to the top of the Penguins' scoring list is a testament to his longevity, skill, and dedication, cementing his legacy alongside the great Mario Lemieux in the pantheon of Pittsburgh hockey icons.
