On a night already brimming with anticipation inside PPG Paints Arena, the Pittsburgh Penguins and their fans witnessed a truly historic moment as Sidney Crosby etched his name atop the franchise’s all-time points leaderboard, surpassing the legendary Mario Lemieux. The Penguins’ 4-3 shootout victory over the Montreal Canadiens on December 21, 2025, was more than just a much-needed win to snap an eight-game losing streak—it was the culmination of two decades of excellence from their captain, whose legacy continues to grow with every shift.
Crosby, who began the night just one point shy of Lemieux’s record, wasted little time making history. At 7:58 of the first period, he deftly tipped Erik Karlsson’s point shot past Montreal netminder Jakub Dobes, tying the franchise mark and electrifying the crowd. But Crosby wasn’t done. With 7:20 left in the period, his shot on a power play ricocheted off Bryan Rust before Rickard Rakell tapped home the rebound, giving Crosby the assist that officially moved him past Lemieux. The bench emptied as teammates mobbed their captain in celebration—a scene that will be replayed for years in Penguins lore.
“I don’t think you can put a stat line or a number on what he means to this team and to hockey, so yeah, in my mind, he’s still No. 1,” Crosby said, ever humble in the face of breaking a record long thought untouchable. The magnitude of the moment was amplified when the arena fell silent for a special 30-second video message from Lemieux himself. “I knew when we played together in 2005 that you were going to be a very special player and accomplish a lot of great things in your career,” Lemieux said. “Here we are 20 years later, you’re now one of the best to ever play the game.”
For those in attendance, the hush that overtook the arena as Lemieux’s words echoed was a testament to the reverence Pittsburgh holds for its hockey icons. “Seeing the crowd go quiet when Mario’s message come on, that was pretty special,” Crosby noted. “If you don’t understand the impact he’s had here and you were here tonight, I think you understand it a little bit better given how quiet it got.”
Crosby’s new franchise record now stands at 1,724 points, amassed over 1,387 regular-season games—an astonishing feat of consistency and excellence. With 645 goals and 1,079 assists, Crosby is not only the Penguins’ all-time points leader but has also moved into eighth place on the NHL’s all-time scoring list, passing Lemieux in the process. He also notched his 18th 20-goal season, a mark surpassed by only six players in league history, and joined the upper echelons of NHL legends by passing Phil Esposito for ninth-most even-strength goals (449) and tying Adam Oates for eighth-most assists in league annals during the same first period.
“I have so much appreciation for having the opportunity to play with him, live with him and learn from him,” Crosby reflected on his early years sharing a home with Lemieux and his family. “You grow up watching him, you never expect you’re going to make it to the NHL let alone play with him. He was a big part of helping me out and a huge influence on me.”
For Lemieux, whose own career was the stuff of legend—1,723 points in just 915 games, and a tenure that included not only Hall of Fame play but also ownership of the franchise—passing the torch to Crosby felt both inevitable and deeply meaningful. Lemieux became the Penguins’ all-time points leader on January 20, 1989, when Crosby was just 17 months old. The symmetry of the moment was not lost on anyone in the building.
But the night wasn’t just about records. The Penguins, desperate to halt a slide that had seen them go 0-4-4 in their previous eight games, needed a win. They got it in dramatic fashion. Rickard Rakell, who had already played a key role in Crosby’s record-breaking assist, scored the deciding goal in the shootout. Noel Acciari also found the net for Pittsburgh, while Arturs Silovs provided 23 saves, earning his first win since November 6. For Montreal, Oliver Kapanen, Ivan Demidov, and Noah Dobson tallied goals, and Dobes stopped 28 shots in a losing effort. Cole Caulfield was the lone Canadiens scorer in the shootout, but after Rakell’s goal gave Pittsburgh the edge, Silovs denied Nick Suzuki to seal the victory.
Penguins head coach, clearly relieved after the streak-snapping win, praised his captain’s leadership and the team’s resilience. “Sid’s been the heartbeat of this franchise for years, and tonight he showed once again why he’s one of the best to ever play,” he said. “The guys rallied around him, and we finally got the result we’ve been working for.”
The win was Pittsburgh’s first shootout triumph of the season, and it came after back-to-back shutout losses. The Penguins improved to 1-4-4 in their last nine games—a small but significant step to righting the ship as the season approaches its midpoint. The Canadiens, meanwhile, saw their brief two-game winning streak snapped but remain a tough opponent, now 4-1-2 since December 9.
The game also featured some notable absences and changes. Phillip Danault, recently traded to Montreal from Los Angeles, did not dress for the Canadiens but is expected to make his debut in the upcoming game against Boston. Both teams now look ahead to important matchups—Montreal continues its seven-game road trip in Boston, while Pittsburgh travels to Toronto.
Beyond the numbers, Crosby’s achievement is a reminder of the rare air occupied by the NHL’s true greats. He now sits third on the league’s all-time points list with a single franchise, trailing only Detroit’s Steve Yzerman (1,755) and Gordie Howe (1,809). The company Crosby keeps is a testament to his longevity, skill, and the indelible mark he’s left on Pittsburgh hockey.
As the final horn sounded and the Penguins celebrated a hard-fought win, the night belonged to Crosby, whose journey from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, to the pinnacle of Penguins history has inspired a generation. “Having an opportunity to play on the same line and connect on a few goals, those are things that I’ll always remember,” Crosby said. “The impact he’s had on me, this team and hockey in general is pretty amazing.”
With the franchise points record in hand and the Penguins back in the win column, Sidney Crosby’s story is far from over. As Pittsburgh turns its attention to the next challenge, one thing is certain: The captain continues to lead by example, rewriting history with every shift.
