On Sunday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the New York Islanders 3-2 at PPG Paints Arena. Captain Sidney Crosby set up Michael Bunting for a powerplay goal in the second period, collecting his 1,034th assist.
Related: Crosby Breaks Major Franchise Record, Becomes Penguins’ All-Time Assists Leader
With the milestone marker, Crosby overtook Penguins legend Mario Lemieux, who held the assist record since December 2006 when he retired with 1,033 helpers.
Following the victory, Lemieux released a statement congratulating his former linemate on breaking his record:
“I want to congratulate Sid on setting the team’s assist record. He’s an amazing player and we’re so fortunate to have him in Pittsburgh. I look forward to even more great things from him.”
Lemieux was the Penguins’ all-time leader in goals (690), assists (1,033), and points (1,723) in only 915 games. Now, his trifecta on the team’s record book is broken as Crosby continues to climb the NHL’s all-time assist list.
Meanwhile, with a two-year extension in his pocket, Crosby has a shot at chasing down Lemieux’s goal and points records, but for now, he’s more focused on winning and bringing the Stanley Cup back to Pittsburgh for the sixth time.
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