PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – No one in the history of the National Hockey League has ever done what Sidney Crosby accomplished Thursday night.
Crosby became the first player ever to average at least a point-per-game in 20 seasons. He did it with a goal in the first period during the Pens game at Buffalo with his family in attendance. Last year he tied Wayne Gretzky at 19 seasons with a point-per-game. He had previously passed Gordie Howe with 17 years.
There are a few former Penguins who had 15 seasons with at least a point-per-game, which is fourth most all-time.
· Mario Lemieux
· Evgeni Malkin
· Ron Francis
Recently passing Howe to enter the top 10 in all-time assists, Crosby is five assists away from Steve Yzerman for ninth place.
It's the 14th time Crosby has notched 80 points or more in a season as he and Wayne Gretzky (17) are the only players in NHL history with 14 or more 80-point campaigns.
Crosby leads all active players and ranks ninth in NHL history with 1,676 points (618G-1,058A). He is one of just 11 players in NHL history to play their entire career with one team spanning at least 20 seasons, and his 1,676 points are the fourth-most points with one franchise in NHL history.