Sidney Crosby scored two goals to move into sole possession of sixth place on the NHL’s career scoring list, helping the Pittsburgh Penguins snap a four-game skid with a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night, Sportsnet reported.
Crosby Snaps Slump with Multi-Goal Game
- Crosby managers secure a massive multi-goal boost, breaking a quiet stretch where he had netted just one goal in his previous seven outings.
- The Penguins moved Crosby and Evgeni Malkin onto their top line before the game in an effort to spark their struggling lineup heading into the Anaheim fixture.
Moving Past Dionne on the Scoring List
The 39-year-old Crosby secured his 1,772nd career point during the second period. Evgeni Malkin fired a one-timer from the right circle that caught a piece of Crosby before deflecting past the goaltender, breaking a tie with Kings great Marcel Dionne.
SIDNEY CROSBY HAS THE 6TH MOST POINTS IN NHL HISTORY!! 🐧 pic.twitter.com/RgV3xfdh1s
I mean, it was probably a little bit cooler because it was here,
Crosby said regarding passing Dionne, who spent 12 seasons in Los Angeles.
Crosby later sealed the 5-2 final score at 18:44 of the third period by diving face-first onto the ice to deposit an empty-netter after being impeded on a breakaway by Los Angeles defenseman Erik Gustafsson. TSN reported that the milestone-rich night marked Crosby’s second multigoal performance of the campaign, following a two-goal effort against the Chicago Blackhawks on October 13.
Novak and Chinakhov Strike Early in Los Angeles
Pittsburgh made a deliberate lineup adjustment prior to puck drop, pairing Crosby and the 40-year-old Malkin on the top unit to jumpstart a struggling roster.
Novak netted the fastest two goals by any player to begin a game this season, scoring his first at 5:10 of the opening frame by controlling a rebound in front.
SIXTH ALL TIME 👏 The legacy of Sidney Crosby just keeps growing. pic.twitter.com/07ZlPwGmm8
Egor Chinakhov added to the tally late in the first period on a power play. Following a video review, officials confirmed his wrist shot from above the left circle found the top right corner and bounced off the back bar, giving the Penguins a 3-1 lead.
| Player | Milestone / Stat | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Sidney Crosby | 1,772nd Career Point | Passed Marcel Dionne for 6th all-time in NHL scoring |
| Evgeni Malkin | 1,421 Career Points | Passed Adam Oates for 20th on the NHL all-time scoring list |
| Tommy Novak | 5:10 First Period | Fastest two goals by a player to begin a game this season |
Kings Score Twice Before Disallowed Equalizer
The Kings attempted to claw back when Corey Perry scored midway through the first period. Perry knocked a midair puck into the blue paint after Mikey Anderson’s wrist shot caromed off the glass. Alex Laferriere added a power-play goal early in the second period when his intended pass from the right circle deflected off the skate of Pittsburgh defenseman Kaedan Korczak through goaltender Sergei Murashov’s pads.
TOMMY GETS ANOTHER! 🚨 2-0 Penguins with 14:50 left in the 1st period. pic.twitter.com/Xoz2iFeDxY
Los Angeles thought they had tied the game 3-3 late in the second period when Artemi Panarin banged home a rebound. However, the Penguins successfully challenged the play for offside, and the goal was overturned after video review.
This is on us tonight,
Kings head coach Peter Laviolette said. You know, it was pretty limited with what they generated, and we couldn’t generate. We had chances, we looks, we had them called back, and there was an opportunity for us to take the game, and so it’s more on us and what we didn’t do.
Murashov finished the night with 26 saves as Pittsburgh earned only its third victory in 11 games, opening a three-California-stop road trip. Meanwhile, Malkin’s assist pushed him to 1,421 career points, enabling him to pass Adam Oates for 20th place on the NHL’s all-time scoring list.
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