The Pittsburgh Penguins have been certainly one of the large surprises up to now in 2025-26 — and Sidney Crosby has been a key reason why. The 38-year-old got on the scoresheet again in a 5-1 victory over the visiting Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night at PPG Paints Arena, in the method becoming the franchise’s all-time leading scorer within the regular-season and playoffs.
The Pens at the moment are 5-2 and tied for the Eastern Conference lead just over two weeks into the yr.
“I do not know if it has been one consistent thing,” Crosby said when asked why the team is having a lot success within the early going, per team reporter Michelle Crechiolo. “I believe that we’ve found other ways to win, and that is how you’ve gotten to do it.”
No. 87 added of passing Mario Lemieux within the record books: “There’s so many latest things and the expectations and all the pieces that comes with it as a young player. So, having someone like Mario and his family there to simply keep things as normal as possible, to be there for anything that I needed, any questions I had, just to maintain things as normal as they may possibly be given the situation.
“I do not know if I can put into words how much it means, but it surely’s meant lots, and I actually cherish that. That relationship and his family and all the pieces that they’ve done for me.”
Excellent night throughout for Penguins
On top of Crosby reaching an incredible milestone of his own, Tuesday night was also special in downtown Pennsylvania for other reasons. Kris Letang recorded his 599th and 600th profession NHL assists in his twentieth National Hockey League season — becoming just the twentieth blue liner to realize the feat.
“From the start, I at all times said to people, I didn’t think I’d get here,” the three-time Stanley Cup champion admitted afterwards, per NHL.com’s Wes Crosby. “It’s just pretty surreal for me to get to that time. … I used to be just joyful to be a hockey player. I believe it’s just cool to have those.”
Crosby and Letang are synonymous with Penguins hockey, and can live perpetually in Pittsburgh lore.
One other storyline from the lean was the goaltending of Arturs Silovs after being traded from the Canucks within the offseason. Silovs led the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks to a Calder Cup championship last spring, earning MVP honors in the method.
But with Kevin Lankinen and Thatcher Demko each locked up for the subsequent few years, Vancouver sent Silovs to Pittsburgh in July. That trade has been paying dividends after which some for Kyle Dubas and the Pens within the early going.
“At all times, first time facing a former club, it feels great to face them,” Silovs said afterwards, per Crechiolo. “The work I put in through the summer, during practices, to truly execute and feel confident in my game, I believe it’s great to point out.”
Silovs is earning increasingly starts along with his strong play, and it has been just another excuse why this 2025-26 version of the Penguins looks unrecognizable from last yr’s roster.
It was a memorable night at PPG Paints Arena, and Crosby and co. will look to proceed the winning ways in a date against the defending champion Panthers in Florida on Thursday night.