Sidney Crosby breaks Penguins scoring record previously held by Mario Lemieux
What’s the feeling finally passing? I mean, it’s kind of mixed emotions, I guess, because you know that’s. You know that number I’ve been kind of hanging around the hockey gods made me earn it. I feel like, uh, the last few games, but, uh, just to get the win, to get *** win in *** shootout, um, it all kind of lined up well tonight. You’ve talked about the recession you’ve had from the fans since day one. I feel like they were just, they were amazing tonight, um, cheering you on. So what was that, the emotions like kind of seeing that support from them and just all these years? Yeah, I mean it’s really special, you’re trying to stay in the game, but also, you know, just try to enjoy the moment too, so. It’s hard to balance that sometimes, especially as you get older, um, you know, you tend to, to look at things *** little bit differently and, um, seeing the, you know, the crowd go quiet when Mario’s message came on, that was uh that was pretty special and um, if you don’t understand the impact he’s had here and you’re here tonight, I think you understand it *** little bit better now, uh, given, um, you know, just how quiet it got, and I think, uh, you know, if there was any. Example of respect. I think it was, it was out there and it was really cool to see that *** little bit more than you thought it would, Sid. I know you were talking to Montreal about getting the 2 points, but it kind of strike you? I think it’s just so much more enjoyable when you know when you get the win. um, I think uh the way things have been going, uh, that’s, that’s been my focus, you know, I think that just trying to play well, win hockey games, let the points take care of themselves, and it can work out *** lot of different ways, maybe not at home, maybe in *** loss, and you know, the fact that it all came, you know, came together here tonight, we got *** big, big win, it adds to it, but uh, yeah, it’s, it’s definitely special and something that uh. You know, I definitely cherish for sure. Can you talk about your relationship with Mario and just how much it means just in, in that terms. I mean, you played with him and, and just, you know, just kind of everything you’ve gone through with him. Yeah, I mean, uh, I just have so much appreciation for, for one, having the opportunity to play with him, you know, you grow up, you know, watching, you know, you never expect you’re gonna make the NHL, let alone play with him. So I had the opportunity to play with him, uh, live with him, you know, learn from him, and, uh, just, you know, the impact that he’s had here. On this team, on and off the ice and you know the impact he’s had on hockey in general, um, you know, it’s, it’s pretty amazing, so I think there’s just *** real appreciation and obviously, you know, the fact that he was *** big part of helping me out and and *** huge influence on me, both him and his family, it makes it even more special so um. Yeah, I could, I could go on and on, but, uh, it, it definitely means *** lot. So is it weird for you to see Mario not be number one on this? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean, you’re right, yeah, I mean. He’s still number one in my books and I think uh. Yeah, I mean, I don’t think you can put. *** stat line or *** number on what what he means to, you know, to this team and and to hockey. So, um, yeah, in my mind he’s still number one. Many years ago you said one of the first memories you, you have of the Penguins watching them was his comeback game, which is almost 25 years ago now. Um, when you’re *** fan just watching games on the couch like all of us, you know, what did he mean to you before you got to know him, he’s teammate, all that stuff. Um, It just, it didn’t seem like uh. He was playing in the same league, you know, it’s just the way that he saw the game, the way that he could make plays, um. You know, just his presence, you know, there are so many different things, you know, whether it was here in Pittsburgh or internationally, uh, playing for Team Canada, so many huge moments, um, you know, I think, you know, when you think of him and Wayne Gretzky, you just think they’re, they’re almost bigger than the game itself, you know, I think that’s, that’s how it felt so to be able to, to come here and learn from someone like that, um, you know. To build *** friendship and, and to have, you know, for him to have that impact, uh, it’s, um, I feel pretty lucky and pretty fortunate for those few months in your rookie year. Yeah, it was, it was awesome. I mean, uh, I probably bugged, bugged him *** lot, uh, asked *** lot of questions, um, but no, that’s, that’s how you learn so much is, you know, talking to him and away from the rink, it was great too. We didn’t talk about hockey *** lot, we just got away, but having the opportunity to play in the same line and connect on *** few goals. Uh, those are things that I’ll always remember. So that’s, that’s really special. I must, I would think, I would think they’re somewhere, yeah, yeah. Sid, what does *** shootout win at this point mean for the team? It’s huge. I mean, you look at how close the standings are and you know those points are, are massive. So, uh, hopefully this gets us over the hump. Um, Artie was great, you know, we got two big goals. Hopefully I can find *** way to break through here and. And chip in that way, but, uh, yeah, I mean that’s, that’s *** big boost to confidence I think for, for us to get, get *** win like that. Thanks. Thank you, thanks, congratulations. Thank you.
Sidney Crosby breaks Penguins scoring record previously held by Mario Lemieux
Updated: 7:59 AM EST Dec 22, 2025
As far as Sidney Crosby is concerned, Mario Lemieux is still No. 1 in his book.But after Sunday night, Lemieux is now officially No. 2.Crosby broke Lemieux’s franchise scoring record with a goal and an assist in the first period of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 4-3 shootout win against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night.“I don’t think you can put a stat line or a number on what he means to this team and to hockey, so yeah, in my mind, he’s still No. 1,” Crosby said.Crosby, who began the night one point behind Lemieux, now has 645 goals and 1,079 assists for 1,724 points in 1,387 games. It also moved him past Lemieux for the eighth-most points in NHL history.Crosby tipped Erik Karlsson’s point shot at 7:58 of the first period for a goal to tie the record. He then broke the mark with 7:20 left in the period when his shot on a power play hit Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell tapped the rebound behind Jakub Dobes.Crosby, Rust and Rakell embraced behind the net after the goal and the Penguins spilled over the bench to congratulate their captain. Later in the period, a 30-second video message recorded by Lemieux congratulating Crosby on the accomplishment was played.“I knew when we played together in 2005 that you were going to be a very special player and accomplish a lot of great things in your career,” Lemieux said in the message. “Here we are 20 years later, you’re now one of the best to ever play the game.”A hush fell over the arena as fans intently listened to Lemieux’s message.“Seeing the crowd go quiet when Mario’s message come on, that was pretty special,” Crosby said. “If you don’t understand the impact he’s had here and you were here tonight, I think you understand it a little bit better given how quiet it got.”Lemieux, the Hall of Famer, who also owned the franchise following 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, finished his career with 1,723 points in 915 games.“I have so much appreciation for having 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 you’re going to make it to the NHL let alone play with him. He was a big part of helping me out and a huge influence on me.”Crosby, the No. 1 overall pick in 2005, is the seventh outright all-time points leader in 58 years of the franchise’s history and the ninth active player to lead a franchise in points. Crosby previously broke Lemieux’s record for most assists in franchise history last Dec. 29 against the New York Islanders. Crosby is 45 goals behind Lemieux’s franchise record of 690.Crosby is now third on the NHL’s all-time points list with a single franchise, behind only Steve Yzerman (1,755) and Gordie Howe (1,809), both with Detroit.Crosby also passed Phil Esposito (449) for sole possession of the ninth-most even-strength goals in NHL history. He also tied Adam Oates for the eighth-most assists in NHL history in the first period. Crosby, who has 20 goals this season, achieved his 18th 20-goal season. Only six players in NHL history have more.The biggest number on Sunday was Lemieux’ franchise scoring record.“Having an opportunity to play on the same line and connect on a few goals … those are things that I’ll always remember,” Crosby said. “The impact he’s had on me, this team and hockey in general is pretty amazing.”
PITTSBURGH —
As far as Sidney Crosby is concerned, Mario Lemieux is still No. 1 in his book.
But after Sunday night, Lemieux is now officially No. 2.
Crosby broke Lemieux’s franchise scoring record with a goal and an assist in the first period of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 4-3 shootout win against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night.
“I don’t think you can put a stat line or a number on what he means to this team and to hockey, so yeah, in my mind, he’s still No. 1,” Crosby said.
Crosby, who began the night one point behind Lemieux, now has 645 goals and 1,079 assists for 1,724 points in 1,387 games. It also moved him past Lemieux for the eighth-most points in NHL history.
Crosby tipped Erik Karlsson’s point shot at 7:58 of the first period for a goal to tie the record. He then broke the mark with 7:20 left in the period when his shot on a power play hit Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell tapped the rebound behind Jakub Dobes.
Crosby, Rust and Rakell embraced behind the net after the goal and the Penguins spilled over the bench to congratulate their captain. Later in the period, a 30-second video message recorded by Lemieux congratulating Crosby on the accomplishment was played.
“I knew when we played together in 2005 that you were going to be a very special player and accomplish a lot of great things in your career,” Lemieux said in the message. “Here we are 20 years later, you’re now one of the best to ever play the game.”
A hush fell over the arena as fans intently listened to Lemieux’s message.
“Seeing the crowd go quiet when Mario’s message come on, that was pretty special,” Crosby said. “If you don’t understand the impact he’s had here and you were here tonight, I think you understand it a little bit better given how quiet it got.”
Lemieux, the Hall of Famer, who also owned the franchise following 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, finished his career with 1,723 points in 915 games.
“I have so much appreciation for having 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 you’re going to make it to the NHL let alone play with him. He was a big part of helping me out and a huge influence on me.”
Crosby, the No. 1 overall pick in 2005, is the seventh outright all-time points leader in 58 years of the franchise’s history and the ninth active player to lead a franchise in points. Crosby previously broke Lemieux’s record for most assists in franchise history last Dec. 29 against the New York Islanders. Crosby is 45 goals behind Lemieux’s franchise record of 690.
Crosby is now third on the NHL’s all-time points list with a single franchise, behind only Steve Yzerman (1,755) and Gordie Howe (1,809), both with Detroit.
Crosby also passed Phil Esposito (449) for sole possession of the ninth-most even-strength goals in NHL history. He also tied Adam Oates for the eighth-most assists in NHL history in the first period. Crosby, who has 20 goals this season, achieved his 18th 20-goal season. Only six players in NHL history have more.
The biggest number on Sunday was Lemieux’ franchise scoring record.
“Having an opportunity to play on the same line and connect on a few goals … those are things that I’ll always remember,” Crosby said. “The impact he’s had on me, this team and hockey in general is pretty amazing.”