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Sydney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins - In Play! magazine
Sidney Crosby posted a three-point performance to help Pittsburgh rally from a multi-goal deficit to earn a shootout victory and thrill their dads in attendance, as the Penguins’ captain climbed a pair of elite lists in the process. Photo: Tim Jarrold - In Play! magazine
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Dec

NHL Recap December 13, 2023 – CROSBY HELPS PENGUINS RALLY TO SHOOTOUT VICTORY

After the Canadiens took a two-goal lead, Sidney Crosby (2-1—3) spearheaded a Penguins rally with a three-point performance to extend the game into extra time where Pittsburgh defeated Montreal in the 12th round of the shootout – tied for the eighth longest in NHL history and the lengthiest since Nov. 22, 2016, when the Islanders defeated the Ducks in the 14th round.

  • Crosby boosted his career totals to 567-966—1,533 and moved into a tie with Mark Recchi (577-956—1,533) for 13th place on the NHL’s all-time points list.

MACKINNON REACHES 800-POINT MILESTONE

In a contest that featured an emotional Erik Johnson receive a standing ovation in his return to Colorado, former teammate Nathan MacKinnon (0-2—2) had a milestone night as he collected his 800th career point, extended a couple of point streaks and helped the Avalanche (18-9-2, 38 points) boost their lead atop the Central Division.

  • MacKinnon (296-504—800 in 738 GP) became the fifth player in Avalanche/Nordiques history to record 800 points and required the fourth-fewest games to reach the mark, behind Peter Stastny (531 GP), Joe Sakic (629 GP) and Michel Goulet (652 GP).
  • MacKinnon extended his point streak to 13 games and surpassed Evan Bouchard (5-13—18 in 12 GP) for the longest active run, while also stretching his season-opening home point streak to 15 contests. He became the fifth player in the past 30 years to record a run of that length, joining Nicklas Backstrom (16 GP in 2018-19), Filip Forsberg (16 GP in 2017-18), Patrick Kane (16 GP in 2015-16) and Mats Sundin (16 GP in 2007-08).

YOUNG STARS HUGHES, DOBSON HELP DEVILS, ISLANDERS PICK UP WINS
Twenty-two-year-old Jack Hughes (1-0—1) scored an overtime winner and 23-year-old Noah Dobson (0-2—2) factored on two of four goals as the Devils and Islanders both skated to victory Wednesday.

  • Hughes netted the game winner in the extra frame to help the Devils cap off their 10th comeback win of the season – the most by any team in the League. It marked the 13th game-winning goal of Hughes’ career, moving him past John MacLean and Zach Parise for sole possession of second most in franchise history before age 23 behind only Petr Sykora (15).
  • Dobson, who leads all defensemen age 23 or younger in points this season and sits fourth in scoring among all blueliners (5-24—29 in 28 GP), tied Tomas Jonsson (29) for the second-most multi-point games by an Islanders defenseman before age 24 – a list topped by Denis Potvin (76). He also helped his club earn its fourth straight victory – their longest winning streak so far in 2023-24.

VILARDI COLLECTS FOUR POINTS AGAINST FORMER TEAM

On Wednesday Gabriel Vilardi (1-3—4) recorded four points against his former club to help the Jets complete their fourth multi-goal comeback win of the season. Vilardi was selected by his opponent Wednesday, the Kings, 11th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft and spent the first four years of his career with the club.

  • Vilardi became the fourth player in the previous 20 years to record at least four points in his first game returning to the city of his former team. The others: Joe Nieuwendyk (4 vs. TOR on April 11, 2006), Sergei Gonchar (4 vs. WSH on Feb. 11, 2006) and Pavol Demitra (4 vs. STL on Nov. 22, 2005).

SEVERAL STREAKS ON THE LINE DURING EIGHT-GAME THURSDAY
A doubleheader on TVA Sports closes out with Connor Bedard looking to extend his road point streak to 11 games while Connor McDavid and the Oilers put their eight-game win streak on the line against the Lightning on Sportsnet One. Thursday’s slate will also feature Alex DeBrincat within reach of multiple milestones when the Hurricanes visit the Detroit Red Wings on Hulu and ESPN+.

  • Bedard, who extended his road point streak to 10 games Tuesday with a signature snapshot goal, can become just the third active skater to post a run of at least 11 contests as a rookie. He would join Nathan MacKinnon (16 GP in 2013-14) and Auston Matthews (11 GP in 2016-17) – both of whom went on to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as the League’s top rookie.
  • The Oilers skate into Thursday on an eight-game win streak – the longest run by any team this season – and can match their franchise mark with another victory tonight (also 9 GP in 2022-23 & 2000-01). McDavid has amassed a League-leading 4-18—22 since Nov. 24 when the streak began.
  • DeBrincat (200-199—399 in 478 GP) will look to reach both the 200-assist and 400-point milestones Thursday. He can become the eighth-fastest active U.S.-born skater to record 400 points – a group paced by Matthews (372 GP).
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Guest Writer