Penguins Room: Crosby Reacts to Breaking Lemieux Record, Playoffs

The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New York Islanders 3-2 Sunday night, just 22 hours after getting pasted on Long Island by those same Islanders. The win vaulted the Penguins not just one game above .500 but also temporarily into a playoff spot.

The Penguins were in a playoff spot until Josh Norris scored a late goal for the Ottawa Senators to beat the Minnesota Wild and reclaim that second wild-card spot from the Penguins.

No matter.

It was still a good night for the Penguins on multiple fronts. Captain Sidney Crosby notched his 1034th career assist, breaking Mario Lemieux’s franchise record, and the Penguins played a hard-nosed, straight-forward game, further cementing their arrival as a legitimate contender for a playoff spot.

Read More: Karlsson Gets Defensive at Perfect Time for Penguins

The locker room had a bubbly vibe Sunday night. Michael Bunting was living a surreal moment because he scored the goal on which Crosby broke the record, and Bunting was one of the primary drivers of the Penguins’ gritty game.

Sidney Crosby

One of the greatest of all time. Coach Mike Sullivan said he was out of adjectives and descriptions for Crosby, then proceeded to invent a few more.

Crosby’s assist was pure, vintage Crosby. He won a puck battle down low and shoveled a perfect backhand pass to Bunting in front of the net.

Crosby didn’t deflect postgame questions about the achievement or his career. He also didn’t deny that the team’s leap in the standings meant something real and tangible.

When Crosby broke the record for the second time (scorers awarded, then rescinded an assist Saturday), the Pittsburgh crowd roared and delivered a thunderous standing ovation.

“I definitely appreciate it. I’ve had some special moments here at home over the years,” Crosby said of the ovation. “To get that kind of reception, to be up in the game and that sort of thing, it means a lot.”

Michael Bunting

Bunting is usually a chipper guy, but he was clearly enjoying the moment as he spoke at the front of the Penguins locker room because his stall was too close to Crosby’s, and there was still a media hoard asking about the record.

Crosby’s stick sat in the corner of the room, within Bunting’s sight. He couldn’t stop smiling as he looked at it and later signed it in a private moment with Crosby.

He couldn’t stop smiling then, either.

Bunting has five points, including four goals, in his last three games. He’s red-hot, but he’s also playing the tough game the Penguins expected when they acquired him last March in the Jake Guentzel trade.

“Yeah, that’s a lot of assists. He’s been a good player for a really long time,” Bunting said with a smile and massive understatement.

Mike Sullivan

“He’s he’s one of the best players ever to play on his backhand. He makes so many plays on his backhand and he’s just so creative,” Sullivan said. “You know, the accomplishment, the milestone that he’s reached, this is just more evidence of an amazing career. He’s just an elite player. I’m running out of adjectives for him. He’s terrific.”

Sullivan also broke down the game, updated defenseman Kris Letang, and spoke on Drew O’Connor’s struggles.