Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby reached a historic milestone on Saturday, becoming the 15th player in NHL history to achieve 1,500 career points. Crosby led his team with two goals and an assist in a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, helping the Penguins maintain their playoff hopes. Reflecting on the milestone, Crosby emphasized the team aspect of hockey and his focus on continuing to contribute to his team’s success. The Penguins are fighting to extend their 16-season playoff streak, the longest active run in North American professional sports.
Crosby achieved this feat as the sixth-fastest player to reach 1,500 points, completing it in 1,188 games. Among the legendary players who reached this milestone before him are Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Jaromir Jagr. The milestone was marked by a power-play goal in the third period, with assists from Kris Letang and Jake Guentzel. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan praised Crosby, calling him one of the greatest players in hockey history and highlighting the significance of the company he now keeps in this elite group.
Former teammate David Perron lauded Crosby’s consistent ability to deliver at critical moments, describing him as a player who is always striving to improve. Crosby’s dedication to excellence has allowed him to excel even at 35, making him the 12th player in league history to reach 90 points in a season at that age or older. This achievement further solidifies his legacy as one of the all-time greats in hockey.
Crosby also joined an exclusive group as the seventh player in NHL history to score 1,500 points with a single franchise, alongside legends like Gordie Howe, Mario Lemieux, and Steve Yzerman. The Penguins’ win was bolstered by contributions from Alex Nylander, Danton Heinen, and Evgeni Malkin, as well as solid goaltending from Tristan Jarry, who made 19 saves. The victory kept Pittsburgh in contention for one of the remaining playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
Despite the Red Wings’ best efforts, including a goal by Pius Suter and strong play from goaltender Ville Husso, their mistakes proved costly against a determined Penguins team. Nylander opened the scoring with his first NHL goal since 2020, providing early momentum for Pittsburgh. The game not only celebrated Crosby’s personal milestone but also underscored the Penguins’ resilience as they battle to extend their playoff streak.
