Penguins' Sidney Crosby scores 600th career goal, joins elite NHL company

PITTSBURGH — Sidney Crosby is a 600-goal scorer.

Crosby became only the 21st NHL player to score at least 600 goals on Saturday night, taking a pass from Erik Karlsson and driving a puck into a mostly open net on a five-on-three power play in the second period. The goal came in front of Crosby’s family at PPG Paints Arena.

Crosby received two standing ovations. The first immediately followed his goal. The second came at a television timeout as a video played recapping his most famous goals.

Add another historic chapter to Sidney’s story 👏 pic.twitter.com/Caqsu78wK3

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) November 24, 2024

Crosby’s tally for the Pittsburgh Penguins put him in select company.

He is only the seventh NHL player to score 600 goals with one franchise. Crosby also joined longtime rival Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals as only the second active player with at least 600 goals.

Ovechkin is closing in on Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record, and Crosby is attempting to break a tie with Gretzky by recording a 20th consecutive season averaging at least a point per game.

Crosby is also only the ninth player to score at least 600 goals and 1,600 points in the regular season.

At 37, Crosby remains historically productive even as his Penguins have struggled to start the season. He and teammate Evgeni Malkin have taken turns hitting major milestones this season. Malkin recorded his 1,300th point and 500th goal in October, when Crosby also hit 1,600 points.

Crosby registered the lone assist on Malkin’s 500th goal, just as Malkin had when Crosby scored his 500th in 2022.

Before the season, Crosby signed a two-year extension with the Penguins, who drafted him first in 2005. With that deal, Crosby will have a chance to supplant Mario Lemieux atop the Penguins’ goal and points lists.

Crosby, of course, played with Lemieux as a rookie in the latter’s final season. He succeeded Lemieux as captain within two years of Lemieux’s retirement.

— Data via records.nhl.com

(Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)