Sidney Crosby clinched a 20th season averaging at least a point per game on Thursday, passing Wayne Gretzky for the most in NHL history.
The Pittsburgh Penguins center set the record by scoring in the first period of a 7-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. He pulled his team within 2-1 at 11:11, taking a Rickard Rakell pass from below the goal line and scoring from in front.
Asked if he was able to reflect on the accomplishment, Crosby, the Penguins captain, said, “It’s hard right now after a loss like that. I just think that there’s a lot of guys who’ve contributed to that so I’m thankful for the guys that I’ve played with that contributed to it. It’s a special milestone but obviously [you] play to win.”
Crosby did say he was thankful his parents, Troy and Trina, were on hand to see him set the record.
“I mean, it’s one of those things where they sacrificed a lot and supported you all these years,” he said. “It’s nice to have different moments with them and I’ve been fortunate they’ve been [to] a lot of different games and memories and events and things like that. Nice to have them here tonight.”
The 37-year-old leads the Penguins with 80 points (26 goals, 54 assists) in his 20th season. He was able to set the record on Thursday because he can play a maximum of 80 games after missing two with an upper-body injury on Feb. 7 and 8.
Gretzky also averaged at least a point per game in his first 19 seasons before having 62 points (nine goals, 53 assists) in 70 games for the New York Rangers in 1998-99, his 20th and final season.
“Consistency and work ethic and passion ... it's a responsibility that you have to each other,” Crosby told NHL.com on March 17. “I think that consistency, it's always a work in progress. Every day is not perfect. There are times that are more difficult than others during the year. I always try to keep that in mind. But that doesn't mean you're not going to have bad days or days where you're not at your best, but you try not to let them bunch together.”
Selected No. 1 by Pittsburgh in the 2005 NHL Draft, Crosby has 1,676 points, the ninth-most in NHL history and most among active players. He has the fourth-most points with a single franchise, trailing Gordie Howe (1,809 with the Detroit Red Wings), Steve Yzerman (1,755 with the Red Wings) and Mario Lemieux (1,723 with the Penguins).
Crosby is 18th with 618 goals, second among active players behind Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals (889) and second in Penguins history after Lemieux (690). His 1,058 assists are the most for Pittsburgh.
Penguins forward Bryan Rust, Crosby’s teammate for 11 seasons, praised the center’s consistency.
“He's a tremendous, special player and person,” Rust said. “And you can see his hard work in everything. Just 20 years is a huge accomplishment and says more about him as a person than a player. Obviously, he works extremely hard and kind of knows what it takes, and there's a lot of people who can be good for one, two, five years. But to do it for that long, I think is incredibly special.”
Crosby was below a point per game on Dec. 17 with 31 points (eight goals, 23 assists) through 33 games. He had a goal and three assists in two of the following three games, a 5-4 overtime win at the Nashville Predators on Dec. 19 and a 7-3 home win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Dec. 23.
Crosby has 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) during a nine-game point streak for Pittsburgh (29-34-11), which remained six points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
Named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in January 2017, Crosby has won the Stanley Cup three times. At age 21, he became the youngest captain of a championship team when Pittsburgh defeated Detroit in seven games of the 2009 Stanley Cup Final. He then won the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2016 and 2017.
Crosby had 120 points (36 goals, 84 assists) in 2006-07 to win the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP and the Art Ross Trophy as the League points leader, winning each again with 104 points (36 goals, 68 assists) in 2013-14. He won the Rocket Richard Trophy as goals leader in 2009-10, tying Steven Stamkos with 51, and again in 2016-17 with 44.
“It's remarkable,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said of Crosby passing Gretzky. “He's in such a rare company where he is right now with every milestone that that he crosses. It just puts him in more elite company than he's already in. So I just think when you think in terms of 20 seasons in a row with such consistency, it's an amazing accomplishment.
“It doesn't surprise me because I know how hard he works and I know how hard he trains, and he controls everything within his power to set himself up for success and ultimately the team. I've said it on so many occasions, just his passion for the game and his willingness to put the work in to, to continue to be at his best. It's just remarkable."
A native of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Crosby earned recognition on Dec. 29, 2022, as an Officer of the Order of Canada "for being one of the greatest hockey players of all time and for supporting community service initiatives for youth." The Order of Canada is one of the country's highest honors, recognizing people across all sectors of society who have made extraordinary and sustained contributions.
“You dream of playing,” Crosby said. “But, I think, as you play and you're a part of it or you look back to your own development, it's really important to have role models and people that impact and influence you. So, to be in that conversation for other players, honestly, that means a ton."
NHL.com independent correspondent Heather Engel contributed to this report
