/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53179551/usa-today-9855946.0.jpg)
Another game, another milestone for Sidney Crosby. The Penguins star center scored at home against the Winnipeg Jets Thursday night, which on the surface doesn't mean much but it takes him to the 1,000 point plateau.
Crosby's once again peerless among his contemporaries, becoming the fastest active player to 1,000. Here's a list of the quickest to 1k for active players and how long it took them:
Player | Games |
Crosby | 757 |
Jaromir Jagr | 763 |
Alex Ovechkin | 880 |
Joe Thornton | 994 |
Marian Hossa | 1100 |
Jarome Iginla | 1103 |
Henrik Sedin | 1213 |
Patrick Marleau | 1349 |
As usual with Crosby, you have to put him among the all-time greats to get a sense of his accomplishment.
Player | Games |
Wayne Gretzky | 424 |
Mario Lemieux | 513 |
Mike Bossy | 656 |
Peter Stastny | 682 |
Jari Kurri | 716 |
Guy Lafleur | 720 |
Brian Trottier | 726 |
Denis Savard | 727 |
Steve Yzerman | 737 |
Marcel Dionne | 740 |
Phil Esposito | 745 |
Crosby | 757 |
Jagr | 763 |
Ahh, the age of Gretzky, huh? If only to play against goalies so small and gameplay so wide-open, but we digress.
Jagr's 1,000 point came as a Penguin as well and happened 12/30/2000, the second game of Lemieux's comeback from retirement. In addition to Crosby, Lemieux and Jagr three other players have hit the 1,000 mark in a Pittsburgh jersey (Paul Coffey, Ron Francis and Joe Mullen).
The Penguins franchise ties Toronto and NYR with six players recording their 1,000 point. Only one franchise (Detroit - 7) boasts more, and Evgeni Malkin (816 points and counting after his 1st period goal tonight) is about 2.5 seasons away from becoming Pittsburgh's seventh.
Tonight was all about Sid though, who hits 1,000 before turning 30 years old despite missing so many games due to injury, he still puts his name into the history books.
Fittingly, point 999 came on a classic Crosby pass on Tuesday night, putting a puck on the stick of rookie Jake Guentzel with nothing but an empty net in front of him for a goal to give Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead in the third period.
As good as it Guentz. pic.twitter.com/WeZPvBr5vi
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 15, 2017
Number 1000, tonight against the Jets was fittingly also a nice pass, to his old buddy Chris Kunitz. Crosby outbattles the 6'5 Blake Wheeler for a loose puck and passes it over for the goal.
Career point 1,000 for Sidney Crosby. Determination. pic.twitter.com/2uSAbxUJ9V
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) February 17, 2017
Crosby now needs 723 more points to tie Mario Lemieux for #1 all-time in Penguins franchise history. Can he do it? Stay tuned...
UPDATE: Nice video from the Pens for the occasion:
#Crosby1000 pic.twitter.com/ogdY9MemG5
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 17, 2017