PITTSBURGH — Sidney Crosby was going to make history. It was inevitable and, finally, it happened.

What made it truly perfect was it happened in a win. Crosby is the ultimate winner, it was his night, and his performance helped the Penguins snap a very ugly eight-game losing skid.

Crosby passed Mario Lemieux as the leading scorer in Pittsburgh Penguins history and the Penguins beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in a shootout, their first shootout win this season after losing their first five.

Crosby, who was held without a point in three of the past four games, didn’t take long to give the fans at PPG Paints Arena what they came to see.

The crowd gave Crosby a lengthy and passionate standing ovation.

“It’s really special,” he said. “You’re trying to stay in the game, but also, try to enjoy the moment, too. It’s hard to balance that sometimes, especially as you get older. You tend to look at things a little bit differently.”

Entering the game a point behind Lemieux’s total of 1,723, Crosby helped dig the Penguins out of an early 1-0 deficit with his 20th goal of the season.

Later in the first period, Crosby unleashed a slap shot and Rickard Rakell knocked in a rebound that gave the Penguins the lead and that gave Crosby a piece of history.

Lemieux sent a message for Crosby. The two have been close for 20 years, since Crosby was drafted first overall by the Penguins in 2005. Crosby lived at Lemieux’s home for several years after being drafted by the Penguins.

From one 🐐 to another. pic.twitter.com/M3drq86PqV

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 22, 2025

Lemieux’s message clearly meant a lot to Crosby.

“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 a little bit better now given just how quiet it got. I think if there was any example of respect, it was that there. It was really cool to see.”

Crosby could pass a couple of other legends on the all-time NHL scoring list. Now eighth all time, Crosby is 32 points from passing Steve Yzerman for seventh place. Lemieux and Yzerman were Crosby’s boyhood hockey heroes, making it even more special for the longtime Penguins captain.

He’s 47 points from matching Marcel Dionne and is 75 points from passing former Penguins center and Hall of Famer Ron Francis for fifth on the all-time list.

Noel Acciari broke a tie in the second period, but the Canadiens fought back to even the score in the third period. Montreal dominated most of overtime, but Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs held down the fort, forcing a shootout. Kevin Hayes and Rakell scored in the shootout to propel the Penguins to their first win in more than two weeks.

The Penguins will play a rare Tuesday matinee at 4 p.m. (ET) in Toronto before beginning their holiday break.

10 postgame observations 
We can debate who’s greater, Lemieux or Crosby, until the sun comes up. Everything about them is impossibly different. Lemieux was greater, skill-wise. He’s the greatest ever, and certainly the greatest pure talent. But Crosby is the greatest winner in franchise history and one of the greatest winners in NHL history. Stanley Cups, Olympic gold medals, World Cups, Four Nations, World Championships, World Juniors. You name it, he’s done it.
It’s fitting that Crosby broke Lemieux’s record on home ice. How many athletes have been more beloved in Pittsburgh? Roberto Clemente? Franco Harris? Everyone has their own opinion, but Lemieux and Crosby would be on anyone’s Mount Rushmore of Pittsburgh athletes, and they might be at the top. Crosby joked about his slump and finally catching Lemieux. “It’s kind of mixed emotions. Because that number … I’ve been hanging around. The hockey gods made me earn it, I feel like, the last few games. But just to get the win, to get a win in a shootout, it all kind of lined up well tonight.”
Crosby was in a real funk for a few games. Against the Canadiens on Saturday, you could see him coming out of it. His body language was better. His work rate was better. Crosby doesn’t turn lazy when he’s in a funk. But he does sometimes look as if he’s in a fog when he’s off his game.
Give Dan Muse credit for thinking outside the box. I didn’t have Hayes on my list to go first in the shootout. But it obviously worked. Hayes scored on a breakaway earlier this season, and it got Muse’s attention.
I like what Muse has done with the blue line. Brett Kulak’s presence has helped Kris Letang. Those two have been together for two games, and I’d suggest the past two games against the Canadiens have been two of Letang’s best games of the season. I don’t know what’s going on with Letang and how much of it is attributable to age. So, while it’s been a tough stretch for Muse and he’s made mistakes, give him credit for going with that duo — no knock on Ryan Shea, who has been solid and has been Letang’s defense partner almost exclusively.
Watching Erik Karlsson play has been a pleasure, and not just because he’s not been horrific in the defensive zone. The genius of his five-on-five offensive game should not go overlooked. Every time the puck is on his blade, you feel as if something special is about to happen.
The Canadiens skated circles around the Penguins in OT. That team was made to thrive in such settings. Keep your eye on the Canadiens as a contender in the Eastern Conference. They’re a few pieces away, but those can always be added before the deadline. That’s a pretty dangerous team, and the East isn’t good.
It wasn’t a great night for Silovs, and I’m not sure what to make of him. But give him credit for a sensational save at the end of overtime and being better in the shootout. It’s progress.
Rakell hasn’t been himself, but he scored in regulation and in the shootout. Perhaps that will trigger him. The Penguins badly need him to be productive.
The Pens are exhausted. They have played nine games in 15 days. That’s absurd. They have one more to go before they can relax, and it’s against the struggling Maple Leafs in Toronto on Tuesday. At least the Penguins can relax and play a game, knowing their losing streak is over.