Sidney Crosby will have to wait another day.
The Pittsburgh Penguins star and captain is up to 999 points in his NHL career, but he just couldn’t reach the 1,000-point mark in Tuesday’s game against the Canucks. It certainly wasn’t from a lack of chances. No. 87 was all over the Canucks, it seemed, whenever he touched the ice.
Crosby entered the game with 998 points, before adding an assist on Jake Guentzel’s goal, which gave Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead in the third period.
The only thing standing between Crosby and reaching the milestone tonight was the play of goalie Ryan Miller.
Crosby had a plus-11 Corsi For rating in all situations. He had six shots on goal and was denied on a breakaway in the third period. Miller also robbed Guentzel with a spectacular arm save that denied Crosby of an assist in the first period.
The next chance for Crosby to achieve the feat is Thursday on home ice against the Winnipeg Jets.
Meanwhile, welcome back to the lineup, Evgeni Malkin.
After missing the last seven games with a lower-body injury, Malkin returned to the Penguins lineup and was immediately productive with a goal and an assist in Pittsburgh’s thorough 4-0 victory over the Canucks.
His night included this set-up on Phil Kessel’s goal, which essentially put this game completely out of reach for Vancouver as Pittsburgh completely took over in the final period. Malkin showed incredible patience, letting Luca Sbisa slide by on the backcheck before calmly dishing the puck to Kessel for an easy goal.
It was noted this morning that Pittsburgh had gone 4-1-2 without Malkin, as injuries have tested the depth of the Penguins, particularly with their group of forwards.
“I think that getting him back just makes us that much more dangerous,” said Crosby of Malkin.