Sidney Crosby is inching toward another rung on the NHL’s all-time points ladder, and the next milestone is right in front of him.
The Pittsburgh Penguins captain enters Thursday night’s game with 1,768 career points, good for seventh place in league history. That leaves him three points away from tying Marcel Dionne for sixth and one more point beyond that from taking the spot outright.
Dionne wrapped up his NHL career with 1,771 points in 1,348 games. Crosby has reached his total in his 22nd NHL season, and he keeps adding to a resume that has placed him among the game’s most productive scorers for more than 20 years.
The math is simple: three points gets Crosby even with Dionne, and four points moves him past him.
The top of the list is still Wayne Gretzky territory, and it’s not close. Gretzky sits first all-time with 2,857 points, followed by Jaromir Jagr at 1,921, Mark Messier at 1,887 and Gordie Howe at 1,850.
The current top 10 looks like this:
Wayne Gretzky - 2,857 points
Jaromir Jagr - 1,921 points
Mark Messier - 1,887 points
Gordie Howe - 1,850 points
Ron Francis - 1,798 points
Marcel Dionne - 1,771 points
Sidney Crosby - 1,768 points
Steve Yzerman - 1,755 points
Mario Lemieux - 1,723 points
Alex Ovechkin - 1,691 points
Crosby has already moved past several Hall of Fame names on the board, including former Penguins teammate Mario Lemieux, who finished with 1,723 points. After Dionne, the next target is Ron Francis at 1,798 points, which means Crosby is 30 points from fifth place.
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Sidney Crosby Sent A Clear Message About What Penguins Still Lack
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The Penguins then kept the same lines and pairings in practice as they turned the page toward their next game in Montreal, a sign the coaching staff is not rushing into changes just yet. There was also another notable skater on the ice before practice, adding to the sense that this was a day built around fine-tuning rather than overhaul. For a team trying to turn close losses into points, the bigger question is whether the current mix can provide the consistency Crosby is pushing for. [Read more 🡒]
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Coach Dan Muse has made it clear the usage will stay fluid, with decisions tied to performance and development needs rather than a fixed rotation. For the Penguins, that creates an immediate test of patience and timing, because the organization wants to find the right long-term answer in net without letting either goalie sit too long or lose momentum in the process. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Prospects Let A Winnable Game Slip Away Late
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins had a game in hand against Utica and let it slip away late, falling 4-3 after building a lead and then watching the Comets reel off three straight goals. Melvin Fernstrm and Avery Hayes supplied the offense for Pittsburghs affiliate, while both goaltenders, David Rittich and Joel Blomqvist, finished with 20 saves in a contest that looked winnable for much of the night.
Hayes was a bright spot beyond the score sheet, scoring shorthanded and continuing a strong run of form for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. For a prospect group that needs to bank points and learn how to close out tight games, the finish was a frustrating one, especially after the Penguins had put themselves in position to leave with a result. [Read more 🡒]