Crosby won't discuss passing Lemieux for most games played with Penguins

CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Sidney Crosby is two games from passing Mario Lemieux for the most played for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Just don't tell Crosby.
"I'm not there yet so I'm not going to talk about it," Crosby said Monday. "I'm not going there."
Through his 914 games, all with the Penguins, Crosby has gained a reputation for being highly superstitious. So it makes sense that he would remain so on the verge of matching Lemieux.
The 31-year-old center will tie Pittsburgh's Hall of Fame center turned co-owner when the Penguins visit the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, FS-F, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV). He could pass Lemieux when the Penguins visit the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Saturday.
Crosby's teammates weren't as hesitant to talk about the record.
"You watch him play, he's an unbelievable player out there," forward Phil Kessel said.
Reaching this milestone never was guaranteed for Crosby.
Like Lemieux, who had Hodgkin lymphoma and back problems during his 17-season NHL career, Crosby has dealt with health issues, notably a concussion sustained during the 2011 NHL Winter Classic against the Washington Capitals at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. He played nine of the Penguins' next 110 games.
Crosby returned to the lineup full time March 15, 2012, and had 37 points (eight goals, 29 assists) in the final 22 games of the 2011-12 season.
Since the start of 2012-13, Crosby has played 480 of 511 games. He won the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy as Stanley Cup Playoff MVP in 2016 and 2017; the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP and the Art Ross Trophy for his League-high 104 points (36 goals, 68 assists) in 80 games in the 2013-14 season; and the Maurice Richard Trophy for leading the NHL with 44 goals in 2016-17.

Bryan Rust, who has played on the first line with Crosby at various times since entering the NHL in 2014-15, said remaining with one team as long as Crosby has is rare.
"There aren't too many guys who can do that and say they've done that," Rust said. "To say that he's about to tie Mario is just a testament to just what he's done and what he's meant to this franchise."
Fourteen seasons into his NHL career, Crosby has won the Stanley Cup three times (one more than Lemieux did as a player). His 1,177 points and 743 assists with the Penguins are each second to Lemieux (1,723 points; 1,033 assists).
Crosby's 434 goals are third in Penguins history behind Lemieux (690) and Jaromir Jagr (439).
In 50 games this season, Crosby leads the Penguins with 61 points (23 goals, 38 assists).
Patric Hornqvist has been the right wing on Crosby's line at times throughout his five seasons in Pittsburgh, and routinely has played on the top power-play unit with Crosby. He said he hasn't seen any indication of Crosby slowing down.
"He's the captain of this franchise for so many years," Hornqvist said. "He will always be a Penguin. He's going to be in the Hall of Fame and be one of the best ever. It's fun to see him every single day. I appreciate all he does for his teammates and this organization."
The Penguins seemed to enjoy looking back on their captain's career to this point.
As for when Crosby will be ready to do that, he said with a laugh, "We'll talk about it when I get there."