Alexander Ovechkin isn’t the only player setting his sights on a Wayne Gretzky record. On Thursday at Madison Square Garden, Sidney Crosby ended his campaign averaging at least a point per game for the 18th time in his career.
The Pittsburgh Penguins captain had two assists, his 82nd and 83rd points of the season, in a 3-2 loss to the New York Rangers.
Since the start of his successful career in 2005-2006, Crosby has never ended a season with fewer points than games played. In National Hockey League (NHL) history, only Gretzky has accomplished this feat more times. He’s done it 19 times.
In 2022–23, Crosby had 29 goals and 83 points in 67 games. In the duel of the day he prepared the successes of Rickard Rakell and Jake Guentzel. The latter reached the plateau of 30 goals for the third time in his career.
However, it was the Blueshirts’ captain who sealed the game’s outcome. Chris Kreider first jumped on an Adam Fox throw to put his team ahead, then followed Guentzel by scoring his 30th net in an empty cage.
Mika Zibanejad and Tyler Motte previously demystified Tristan Jarry.