20 Years Greatness: Crosby Takes Gretzky Record!

BUFFALO, NY. — In yet another sign that Sidney Crosby is among hockey’s immortals, the Pittsburgh Penguins center snatched one of Wayne Gretzky’s records in the Penguins game against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday at Key Bank Center. For the 20th consecutive season, Crosby has averaged at least a point per game.

Thursday, Crosby reversed a lifeless first period for his team at 11:11 of the first period when he sniped a goal near the crease over Buffalo goalie James Reimer. It was Crosby’s 26th goal of the year.

The numerology should not be surprising for a player born on Aug. 7, 1987, who wears No. 87 and carries an $8.7 million salary cap hit. Crosby’s parents and long-term girlfriend, Kathy Leutner, were also in attendance.

Of course, the superstitious Crosby had to do a little maintenance Tuesday morning. When one of Crosby’s teammates asked about him breaking the record, Crosby motioned to cut it and laughingly yelled, “No, don’t talk about it!”

It was in good fun.

The 37-year-old Crosby has been on a tear. Including Thursday, he has a league-high nine-game scoring streak. With seven goals and seven assists in his last nine games (and counting, Thursday), he also leads the league in scoring since the end of the Four Nations Face-Off, beginning Feb. 22.

Four of his last five points were scored in the state of Florida, until the authoritative goal Thursday.

Gretzky set a mark of 19 consecutive seasons with at least a point per game. The streak ended after his 19th season when he played with the New York Rangers. Gretzky did not reach a point per game in his 20th and final season.

Thursday, in his 20th season, Crosby reached the feat. The Penguins’ great needed just 74 games to reach 80 points. After missing a couple of games earlier this season, Crosby would play 80 games if he plays the remaining Penguins games this season, thus solidifying the mark.

In case Crosby’s resume needed further burnishing. Remarkably, he leads the 5v5 NHL scoring lead with 52 points.

The Penguins game Thursday began poorly. For the 14th time this season, the team allowed a goal on the first shot. Tage Thompson was unabated and beat Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry just 27 seconds into the game.

The Penguins trailed 2-0 before Crosby scored, and the goal gave the lifeless Penguins a boost. This season, Crosby has 26 goals and 54 assists. Teammate Evgeni Malkin is second among active players in point-per-game seasons (15) but will not reach the feat this season.