Not long ago, the Penguins looked like they would miss the playoffs for the second straight season. They were 10 points away from the playoffs during the March 4 games. They traded forward Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes on March 7, one day before the 2024 NHL trade deadline.

But they are now on a 10-point streak (7-0-3) since March 24. Crosby, their captain, leads the NHL in scoring in that span with 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists). He leads the Penguins in goals (41), assists (48) and points (89) this season.

“I don’t think there’s been a different master the last 10 games,” forward Riley Smith said. “He’s been the best player on our team all season. We have to help him a little bit more.”

Smith laughed.

“He can’t be on the ice for every goal.”

Crosby made a big play to help Pittsburgh take a 1-0 lead on Thursday, slamming a shot past the Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin. He sent a pass from below the goal line to the right wing. Rust fired a shot from an acute angle and forward Drew O’Connor scored on the rebound at 2:40 of the first period.

Crosby then put Pittsburgh up 3-2, driving to the left post and redirecting a pass from Rust at 7:58 of the second. It was his 1,590th point, tying him with Phil Esposito for 10th in NHL history.

Finally, Crosby outpaced Red Wings forward JT Compher on the left side of the net to control the rebound down the goal line. He sent a backhand pass from the bottom of the left circle into the high slot for Karlsson who fired a slap shot to score the winning goal. That was two teachers and a huge win.

Crosby is the 14th player in NHL history to reach 1,000 assists and the seventh-fastest. It took 1269 matches. Only Wayne Gretzky (645), Mario Lemieux (856), Paul Coffey (1,105), Adam Oates (1,174), Ron Francis (1,235) and Marcel Dionne (1,259) needed fewer.

Next on the all-time scoring list is Joe Sakic (1,641) points. after that? Lemieux (1,723).

“It’s great,” Crosby said. “I couldn’t tell you that. I didn’t look at it closely. But to be in that company with all those players that you mentioned, yeah, that means a lot. I grew up watching those players that you mentioned. Obviously I’m a huge fan of the game and the history, So yeah, it’s something I’m honored to be a part of.