PITTSBURGH — Sidney Crosby broken Mario LemieuxTeam scoring record with a goal and an assist in the first period Pittsburgh Penguins' 4-3 shootout victory over Montreal Canadiens on Sunday evening.
Crosby, who started the game one point behind Lemieux, now has 645 goals and 1,079 assists for 1,724 points in 1,387 games. It also allowed him to pass Lemieux for eighth most points in NHL history.
Crosby gave a tip Erik KarlssonThe point shot at 7:58 of the first period set the record. Crosby then broke the mark with 7:20 left in the period when his shot on the power play found the target. Brian RustAnd Rickard Rakell tapped the rebound behind Jakub Dobes.
Crosby, Rust and Rakell hugged behind the net after the goal, and the Penguins leaned over the bench to congratulate their captain. Later in the same period, a video message recorded by Lemieux was played, congratulating Crosby on his achievement.
“When we played together in 2005, I knew you would be a special player and achieve great things in your career,” Lemieux said in a message also posted on the club's social media accounts. “And now, 20 years later, you are one of the best to ever play the game.”
From one 🐐 to another. pic.twitter.com/M3drq86PqV
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 22, 2025
Lemieux, a Hall of Famer who also owned the franchise after his second retirement, became the Penguins' all-time points leader, surpassing then-assistant coach Rick Kehoe on Jan. 20, 1989, when Crosby was 17 months old. Lemieux, who was in the lineup when Crosby recorded his first NHL point, retired with 1,723 points in 915 games.
“I'm very grateful for the opportunity to play with him, live with him and learn from him,” said Crosby, who lived with Lemieux and his family early in his career. “You grow up watching him, you never expect to make it to the NHL, let alone play with him. He helped me a lot and had a huge influence on me.”
Crosby, the No. 1 overall pick in 2005, is the seventh all-time points leader in the franchise's 58-year history and the ninth active player to lead the franchise in points. Crosby previously broke Lemieux's record for most assists in franchise history last December against New York Islanders. Crosby trails Lemieux's record of 690 goals by 45 goals.
Crosby is third on the NHL's all-time points list for a team, second only to Steve Yzerman (1755) and Gordie Howe (1809), both with Detroit.
Crosby also passed Phil Esposito (449) and ranks ninth in even-strength goals in NHL history. Crosby also tied Adam Oates for eighth most first-period assists in NHL history. Crosby, who has scored 20 goals this season, recorded his 18th 20-goal season. The most by six players in NHL history.
The Penguins are on an eight-game skid. Crosby was involved in the shootout but did not score.
“Being able to play on the same line and score some goals… those are things I'll always remember,” Crosby said of playing with Lemieux. “The impact he has had on me, this team and hockey in general has been amazing.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
