Sidney Crosby’s legacy was cemented long ago, but on Tuesday night he joined Alexander Ovechkin as the only two active players to reach 500 career NHL goals. The 34-year-old scored in the opening period against the Philadelphia Flyers to reach the milestone and become the 46th player in league history to do it.
“Excited,” Crosby enthused after his team’s victory, via NHL.com. “Just kind of been hovering around it here for a few games, so it was a lot of fun to be able to do it at home and with all the guys coming on the ice like that. That’s something I’ll definitely always remember. That’s basically what was going through my mind, just a lot of joy.”
Crosby becomes the first player to reach 500 goals since Patrick Marleau did it in February 2017 with the San Jose Sharks. He is the second player in Penguins franchise history to reach the milestone after Mario Lemieux ended his career with a total of 690 goals.
“I’ve been able to witness most of them, incredible goals over the years, and I’m sure there’ll be plenty more in the future,” Lemieux said in a video. “So, again, congratulations, enjoy tonight, and all the best to you, my friend.”
Crosby has spent his entire career in Pittsburgh with the Penguins after the franchise selected him with the first overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He has won three Stanley Cups with the club, with the last triumph coming in 2017.
“You look back at different things over the last 16, 17 years, that’s a memory I’ll always hold pretty close,” Crosby remarked. “Like you said, with ‘Geno’ assisting on it, with it being at home against Philadelphia, obviously you know the history of those two teams. I think everything that went into it, and obviously, to get the win, changes the whole dynamic a little bit when you’re able to get the win at the end. So I think all those things combined made it for a special night.”
Crosby has 14 goals in the current campaign, as the Penguins continue to battle for top spot in the competitive Metropolitan Division. With Crosby and Evgeni Malkin now in their mid-30s, the Penguins know the time is now or never to win another Stanley Cup with the dynamic duo. However, on Tuesday night it was all about Sid the Kid.
“Everybody wanted to get it for him. Get him the puck. Get that 500,” Penguins defenseman Kris Letang said. “It’s such a special moment in a career like he has. Everybody was so happy, so excited for him. I think it was perfect. I think it was the way he wanted it to be, everybody on the ice with him. That’s the type of player he is, and guy. It was just great.”
It remains to be seen how many goals Crosby will ultimately end up with before he decides to hang up his skates, but fans and teammates are just hoping he isn’t planning on calling it quits anytime soon.
