Game Preview: 03.23.25 at Florida Panthers

Sidney Crosby notched two extra factors (1G-1A) Friday night time in Pittsburgh’s win over Columbus, stretching his level streak to 6 video games. Solely Connor McDavid and Artemi Panarin have longer energetic streaks than Crosby’s six. During the last six video games relationship again to March 9, Crosby is tied for first in factors and objectives throughout all skaters.

After including two extra factors in Pittsburgh’s win over Columbus Friday night time, Crosby sits simply 4 factors away from clinching his twentieth point-per-game season, which might surpass Wayne Gretzky (19) for essentially the most in NHL historical past.

Crosby has scored on 156 totally different goaltenders within the common season all through his 20-year profession. Included in these 156 netminders is Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who Crosby has tallied seven of his 617 profession objectives towards. There are solely two different energetic goalies that Crosby has scored extra objectives towards than Bobrovsky.

Per NHLPR, solely 5 gamers in NHL historical past have scored on extra particular person goalies than Crosby, who’s one new netminder away from tying Ron Francis for the fourth most.

Evgeni Malkin has 11 factors (5G-6A) in 15 video games since getting back from the 4 Nations break. The ahead just lately tied Anze Kopitar for the Thirteenth-most assists for a single franchise in NHL historical past, and he is only one help shy of tying Henrik Sedin for twelfth place.

Defenseman Erik Karlsson ranks first amongst staff defensemen and third total with 49 factors (10G-39A) this season. He at present sits three factors away from tying Markus Naslund for the ninth-most factors by a Swedish-born participant.

Karlsson is only one help shy of recording his tenth 40-assist season. Along with his subsequent help, Karlsson will tie Brian Leetch and Brad Park for the seventh-most 40-assist seasons by a defenseman in NHL historical past.

Karlsson is just one level away from hitting the 50-point mark for the ninth time in his profession. When he reaches this mark, he’ll turn into simply the fifteenth defenseman in NHL historical past to have 9 or extra 50-point seasons.

Lastly, Karlsson is only one objective shy of reaching the 200-goal plateau. Amongst energetic blueliners, Karlsson’s 199 profession objectives rank second within the NHL behind Brent Burns (260). Amongst Swedish-born defensemen, solely Nicklas Lidstrom (264) has extra profession objectives than Karlsson.

Vs. Florida

Pittsburgh’s duo of Sidney Crosby (29G-36A-65PTS) and Evgeni Malkin (18G-32A-50PTS) rank third and fourth amongst all energetic skaters in factors towards the Panthers, respectively. The Penguins have 4 of the top-11 level scorers towards Florida amongst energetic gamers.

Erik Karlsson (11G-25A) and Kris Letang (12G-24A) are tied for third in factors amongst defensemen towards the Panthers all-time.

Because the 2015-16 season, Sidney Crosby has 16 objectives in 23 video games towards the Panthers. His goals-per-game (0.70) towards them leads the NHL since that season.

Fast Hits

1) Blake Lizotte has six factors (1G-5A) in 9 profession video games versus Florida. His groups are 7-0-2 towards the Panthers when he clothes.

2) Danton Heinen at present has a three-game level streak (1G-2A) towards Florida. In 23 profession video games towards the Panthers, the ahead has 13 factors (4G-9A), which is his second-highest level whole towards any opponent (16 vs. Columbus).

3) Boko Imama recorded his first objective as a Penguin Friday night time towards Columbus, changing into the twenty ninth totally different participant to attain for the staff this season. No staff has extra distinctive objective scorers than Pittsburgh.

4) Conor Timmins has been plus and even in all six video games that he’s performed with Pittsburgh.

5) The Penguins personal an total report of 404-92-49 when each Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin report a degree in a recreation.