Crosby has the most assists in team history (1,089). He is second with 651 goals, trailing Lemieux (690). Malkin is third in points (1,381), goals (524) and assists (857).
“I’m behind him. I’m still here,” Malkin said. “And he’s feeling [it]. It’s why he plays good, because he wants to be No. 1, for sure.”
Actually, Crosby never seems interested in stats. They’re just a product of his ability. It’s still impossible not to notice how quickly he’s climbing.
After getting by Lemieux, Crosby is eighth all-time in points. Next up is childhood idol Steve Yzerman (1,755 points), then Marcel Dionne (1,771) and Ron Francis (1,798).
Crosby, signed through next season on a two-year, $17.4 million contract ($8.7 million average annual value), is likely to join Wayne Gretzky (2,857), Jaromir Jagr (1,921), Mark Messier (1,887) and Gordie Howe (1,850) as the only players with 1,800 career points.
On Thursday, he had a goal and an assist in a 6-3 win against the Philadelphia Flyers. That clinched a 19th season with at least 50 points, tied with Alex Ovechkin and Gretzky for the sixth-most in League history behind Francis (22), Howe (22), Jagr (20), Messier (20) and Ray Bourque (20). Then on Saturday, Crosby scored a tying goal with 1:01 remaining in the third period to go along with an assist in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“He does all the right things,” said Flyers coach Rick Tocchet, who was a Penguins assistant when Crosby won the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs in 2016 and 2017. “He’s consistent. How many years in the League? He’s done the right thing every year. So, it’s actually a guy we should be watching video of. … That’s how you learn.”
Crosby is on pace for 45 goals this season, which would be ahead of Howe (44 in 1968-69) and Ovechkin (44 in 2024-25) for the most by a player age 38 or older. He’s missed two games the past four seasons and could reach 90 points in a fourth straight.
None of that matters. At least not to Crosby.
The numbers are nice, but only if the Penguins land back in the playoffs.
“It’s just how important the games are and, you know, how important every point is,” Crosby said. “Where we are in the standings, and things like that, I think that’s really what it’s all about. It’s a fun time of year and it’s fun to be in a race like that.”
