Sidney Crosby with Team Canada (Via Getty Images) Sidney Crosby added another line to his already legendary resume Sunday, becoming Canada’s all-time leader in Olympic points during a dominant performance against France in the preliminary round finale. The 38-year-old recorded three points in a 10-2 routing of their opponents.It pushed his Olympic career total to 16 breaking Jarome Iginla’s previous mark of 14. The record-breaking moment came in the second period when Crosby found the back of the net, giving him his second goal of the Milano Cortina Games to go along with five assists.
Canada secures total victory against France to set up an impossible goal differential
Team Canada cruised to victory in Group A play, setting up a favorable path toward the medal round. What makes the achievement particularly meaningful is the connection between Crosby and the man he passed. Iginla provided the primary assist on Crosby’s overtime winner against the United States in the 2010 gold medal game in Vancouver, arguably the most famous goal in Canadian hockey history. That assist turned out to be Iginla’s final point wearing the Maple Leaf at the Olympics.Crosby is now hunting his third Olympic gold medal after winning in 2010 and 2014. His performance in Milano Cortina has been exactly what Canada needs from its captain, with seven points through preliminary play, putting him among the tournament leaders.The 2010 Vancouver Games marked Crosby’s breakout on the Olympic stage with four goals and three assists for seven points. Four years later in Sochi, he wore the captain’s C and helped Canada defend its gold medal despite recording just one goal and two assists in three games.His current pace suggests this tournament could match or exceed his 2010 production, giving Canada another dangerous weapon as the knockout rounds approach. Beyond his Olympic success, Crosby continues to rewrite the Penguins’ record books in his 20th NHL season. Crosby surpassed Mario Lemieux as the franchise’s all-time points leader in December and now sits at 1,746 career points, just 10 shy of passing Steve Yzerman for seventh all-time in NHL history. The captain has also tallied 652 career goals, putting him 38 away from Lemieux’s franchise-leading 690.Canada’s quarterfinal matchup arrives February 18 as Crosby and the defending champions push toward the podium with medal games set for February 21 and 22 in Milan.