Crosby Hits 1,700 Points as Penguins Beat Blues 6-3
by IHM Team | IHM News | October 28, 2025
Sidney Crosby keeps rewriting hockey.
The Pittsburgh captain put up a goal and two assists in a 6-3 win over the St. Louis Blues, and in the process became just the ninth player in NHL history to reach 1,700 career points. The milestone was sealed on Bryan Rust’s goal early in the third period.
Crosby now sits at 1,701 career points (632 goals, 1,069 assists). Only Wayne Gretzky, Jaromir Jagr, Mark Messier, Gordie Howe, Ron Francis, Marcel Dionne, Steve Yzerman and Mario Lemieux have ever touched that level. He is second all time in Penguins history behind Lemieux.
The 38-year-old center hit 1,700 in 1,362 games. That is the fourth-fastest pace in NHL history, behind Gretzky, Lemieux and Dionne.
“This is a group of players I grew up idolizing,” Crosby said. “I never thought I’d be anywhere near them. I’m just grateful I’ve been able to play this long.”
Pittsburgh is rolling too. The Penguins improved to 7-2-1 and are now 5-0-1 in their past six.
Game Flow
Pittsburgh came out aggressive. The Penguins scored twice on their first two shots in the opening minute: Bryan Rust at 0:39 and Anthony Mantha at 0:55. St. Louis got burned immediately.
“Poor start,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “Two mistakes in two minutes and their top guys made us pay.”
St. Louis did fight back. Nick Bjugstad made it 2-1, and Jordan Kyrou tied it 2-2 late in the first with a wrist shot off the rush. Kyrou extended his point streak to seven games.
But every time the Blues pushed, Crosby answered. In the second period, with the game tied, Crosby threaded a cross-ice feed to Parker Wotherspoon on a delayed penalty. Wotherspoon scored to make it 3-2.
Early in the third, Rust tipped an Erik Karlsson point shot to push it to 4-2. Crosby had the secondary assist on that goal. That was his 1,700th career point.
“To be the guy on his 1,700th point is something I’m going to remember,” Rust said.
Mathieu Joseph cut it to 4-3 for St. Louis, but Crosby answered again. He broke free, got in alone, followed his own rebound and finished to make it 5-3 with under four minutes left. Evgeni Malkin added the empty-netter for 6-3.
Tristan Jarry made 26 saves. Karlsson had three assists. Rust scored twice. Malkin posted a goal and a helper. This was not nostalgia. This was an active statement from Pittsburgh’s core.
Coach Dan Muse said after the game that the second and third periods looked much more like Penguins hockey: “You get two early and you can think it’s going to come easy. We can’t think that way. I liked our response later in the game.”
Blues Outlook
St. Louis has now dropped four straight (0-3-1). The Blues were able to push in the first and second, but never controlled the pace long enough to flip the game in their favor.
“We didn’t push well enough to take the lead and have them chase,” Montgomery said. “That’s the difference.”
Off-Ice Situation
The Penguins confirmed that an adult male fan fell from the upper concourse to the lower bowl area and was taken to a local hospital. Coach Dan Muse opened his postgame comments by saying the team’s thoughts are with that fan and his family.
Coach Mark Lehtonen’s Take (IHM Analysis)
“That is not just another stat night. You are talking about a 38-year-old center still driving games in the best league in the world. Crosby did not just collect points. He controlled momentum. When St. Louis answered, he answered back harder.
What I liked most was timing. Big plays at pressure moments. That is what elite captains do. That is why that locker room still follows him.
And for Pittsburgh overall, this looks like a veteran core that still believes. Karlsson was sharp. Malkin was sharp. Rust was hungry. If they stay healthy and keep this pace, they are not just sentimental favorites. They are dangerous.”
IHM Verdict
The Crosby story is not over. Pittsburgh is not done. Final score: Penguins 6, Blues 3.
Author: IHM Team | Commentary by Coach Mark Lehtonen
Category: IHM News | Date: October 28, 2025
