Sidney Crosby ascended further on the NHL career scoring ladder, contributing two goals and an assist to propel the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night. Jansen Harkins played the hero, securing the decisive goal in the 12th round of the shootout.
Crosby’s standout performance not only propelled the Penguins to their second consecutive win after a challenging four-game skid but also moved him past Paul Coffey, tying him with former teammate Mark Recchi for 13th place on the NHL points list with 1,533.
In regulation, Jake Guentzel also found the back of the net for the Penguins, while Erik Karlsson provided two crucial assists, and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic made 39 saves.
Montreal fought hard with goals from David Savard, Jayden Struble, and Sean Monahan, but the loss marked their eighth in the last nine home games. Netminder Sam Montembeault made 27 saves for the Canadiens.
The shootout showcased an intense battle, with Nick Suzuki, Cole Caulfield, Kris Letang, and Crosby scoring in the first four attempts. After a series of skaters failed to convert, the deadlock was broken when Sean Monahan and Lars Eller found the net in the seventh round. The drama continued until Harkins, who had limited ice time during the game, emerged as the shootout hero in the 12th round, clinching the victory for the Penguins.