Sidney Crosby on Track to Break Wayne Gretzky's All-Time Record Before Alex Ovechkin

Sidney Crosby's brilliance lifted the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night. Crosby scored twice, with the first breaking a scoreless tie late in the opening period. The second came with less than two minutes remaining in the second period, this time on the power play as the Penguins extended their advantage. In a game that really underlined his lasting effect on the league, Crosby moved up on more NHL all-time lists, as he tied legends Joe Nieuwendyk and Sergei Fedorov for 14th in game-winning goals. He also passed Luc Robitaille for 13th in career even-strength goals, further nailing his position among the greats in the game of hockey.

Set up with an absolutely gorgeous assist from Kris Letang, Sidney Crosby's first of the night was all about great chemistry between him and his fellow Penguins veteran. Working the blue line, Letang managed to successfully dodge Montreal's Nick Suzuki and present a perfectly placed backhand pass to Crosby. Wasting little time, Crosby rifled off a quick wrist shot and beat Montreal's goalie Samuel Montembeault on the glove side. That made it another milestone, as the Crosby-Letang duo vaulted ahead of the Anze Kopitar-Drew Doughty duo for third on the list of most goals by a forward-defenseman pairing in NHL history. They remain one of the biggest reasons the Penguins have a competitive advantage most nights.

Sidney Crosby got off to a rather slow start to the season by his standards, but he has his offense rolling now. He has 14 points in his last 13 games, with five goals and nine assists, including four goals and seven points in his last three matchups. The consecutive multi-goal games bring his season total to seven in back-to-back games, including two on Thursday against Anaheim. With a rejuvenated Crosby now bringing welcome energy to the Penguins' attack, it would appear he proves one thing, the Penguins captain remains as influential as ever.

Through his accomplished career, Sidney Crosby has become synonymous with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Since he joined the Penguins in 2005, Crosby has led the Penguins to three Stanley Cup Championships and forever changed the trajectory of the team. Through his leadership and insatiable quest for excellence, Crosby has inspired teammates and fans alike. Known for clutch performances, he has given way to thousands of iconic moments while solidifying his status as the face of the franchise. Approaching a rare milestone of 600 goals would make him only the second player with 600 goals, 1,600 points, three Stanley Cups, and two playoff MVPs, proving Crosby's contributions toward the Penguins' legacy go without saying. The difference here is that Crosby would become the first player in NHL history to accomplish all of this while also winning back-to-back MVP trophies, something that Gretzky was unable to do. This would in fact give Crosby the all-time record, even before Alex Ovechkin surpasses Gretzky for the NHL's all-time goal lead.

The Penguins head to an imposing three-game road trip against the Capitals, Hurricanes, and Islanders with a good deal of momentum because of Sidney Crosby's recent milestone and high Octanes of play. He is still the heartbeat of Pittsburgh's pursuit of success, ready to lead his side out onto the ice against formidable opponents. His presence and effect will keep echoing with the Penguins and the NHL as he inches closer to new records and historic milestones, thus being a testimony to his great career and steadfastness to the game.