Crosby Breaks Lemieux’s Penguins Record and Redefines Longevity in the NHL
One of those truly special NHL moments just happened in Pittsburgh, and it’s the kind that puts history, legacy, and pure respect all into one frame. Sidney Crosby has officially passed Mario Lemieux to become the all-time leading scorer in Pittsburgh Penguins history, and the reaction around the league says everything about what this moment really means.
The record was set in dramatic fashion, during a 4–3 shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens at PPG Paints Arena. Crosby finished the night with a goal and an assist, pushing his career total to 1,724 points. That moved him one point ahead of Lemieux, a player whose name is almost sacred in Pittsburgh. And that’s why this milestone feels different. It wasn’t just another number being crossed off a list. It was Mario’s number.
What’s been said afterward by coaches, teammates, and former players tells the real story. The achievement was described as incredible, humbling, and yet somehow not surprising. Crosby walked into the league with enormous expectations back in 2005, and over two decades later, it’s been acknowledged that those expectations were not only met, but exceeded in every possible way.
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By passing Lemieux on the Penguins list, Crosby also climbed to eighth on the NHL’s all-time scoring chart. That alone puts him in elite company, with legends like Steve Yzerman, Marcel Dionne, and Ron Francis now directly in his sights. Still, what stands out most isn’t just the points. It’s how they’ve been accumulated.
At 38 years old, Crosby is still producing at a top-line level. He currently leads the Penguins in scoring this season, and that consistency has been praised repeatedly. His preparation, training habits, and attention to detail have been pointed to as the reason his game hasn’t dipped like so many others before him. Even after dealing with serious injuries earlier in his career, his durability over the last decade has been remarkable.
Those who have coached him say the same thing: the work never stops. Every practice, every shift, every season is treated with the same intensity. That mindset has allowed Crosby to stay elite in a league that usually moves on quickly from aging stars.
What makes this moment even more striking is that it doesn’t feel like the end of anything. More franchise records are still within reach, including Lemieux’s goal total. For Crosby, this milestone feels less like a closing chapter and more like another reminder that greatness, when paired with dedication, can last far longer than anyone expects.
In Pittsburgh, and across the NHL, this record won’t be remembered just for the number. It will be remembered for who he passed, how he did it, and the standard he continues to set for what a true professional looks like.
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