Crosby Named NHL’s No. 2 Star of Week

Sidney Crosby has been one of the driving forces in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ current 7-1-1 streak.

He was particularly productive during the past week, recording a pair of game-winning goals and five assists in four games, as the Penguins overtook the New York Islanders for possession of the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference playoff field.

His performance during the past seven days earned him recognition as the NHL’s No. 2 star of the week.

Arizona forward Clayton Keller was No. 1, while Toronto’s Mitchell Marner was No. 3.

Crosby capped his week with two assists in the Penguins’ 3-2 overtime victory against the New York Rangers, which allowed him to reach the 80-point milestone for the 12th time in his career and the 50-assist mark for the 10th time.

Crosby is just the seventh player in NHL history to put up 80 points in a season a dozen or more times. Not coincidentally, the other six are in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

They are Wayne Gretzky, who did it 17 times, Mark Messier, Marcel Dionne and Dale Hawerchuk, who did it 13 each, and Steve Yzerman and Joe Sakic, who did it 12 apiece.

Crosby leads the Pittsburgh Penguins in points (80), goals (29), assists (51) and multiple-point games (22).