Crosby scores in OT for 1,400th NHL point, lifts Penguins past Predators

PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby scored two goals, including in overtime, and had an assist to reach 1,400 NHL points in the Pittsburgh Penguins' 3-2 win against the Nashville Predators at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday.

Crosby chipped in a pass from Rickard Rakell at 2:21 of overtime. He has 514 goals and 886 assists in 1,100 games since entering the NHL in 2005-06.
"It's fun being in an emotional game like that down the stretch here in the season," Crosby said. "You know, obviously, the points are so important always, but especially now when we're fighting for position. So you just want to find a way to contribute. For that one to go in in overtime, and to get two points, is huge.
"I'll take that [milestone] if that's what comes with it. But I think we're all just trying to get points and play the right way, give ourselves the best chance here."

Casey DeSmith made 33 saves for the Penguins (42-22-10), who had lost four in a row and were 2-6-1 in their previous nine games. They are third in the Metropolitan Division, six points behind the second-place New York Rangers and four ahead of the fourth-place Washington Capitals.
Matt Duchene scored for the fourth time in six games, and David Rittich made 27 saves for the Predators (41-26-5), who have lost two in a row and three of five. They hold the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference, one point ahead of the Dallas Stars.
"I think there's a lot to like about our game tonight," Nashville coach John Hynes said. "I thought we played the game the right way. I thought for lots of stretches of the game where we were able to dictate the terms of the game. I thought it was a real good, collective effort from our team. I felt like we deserved better."
Crosby gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead on their second shot of the game at 4:58 of the first period. Rakell tucked a pass around Predators defenseman Matt Benning to the left face-off circle, allowing Crosby to drop to one knee for a one-timer.
"I thought [Crosby] was terrific all night," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "Obviously, his offensive production speaks for itself, but it was more than that. I thought he was terrific all night. He was a threat every time he was on the ice. When Sid elevates his game like he did tonight, I just think it gives our whole bench a boost.
"That's the impact that he has on our team. He leads by example, just how he plays the game. … I thought he was a consistent threat all night long."

Duchene tied it 1-1 at 18:49 after taking a stretch pass from Mikael Granlund. Pittsburgh defenseman Marcus Pettersson fell, sending Duchene in on a breakaway for his NHL career-high 38th goal of the season.
Crosby had two of Pittsburgh's three shots in the first, when it was outshot 11-3.
Nick Cousins gave the Predators a 2-1 lead at 4:31 of the third with a wrist shot from the high slot. He had three assists in his previous 12 games.
"I thought it was a good game," Cousins said. "I think overall, it was a pretty even game. They just make a play in overtime. We'll take the point and move on to our five-game homestand."
Jason Zucker tied it 2-2 at 8:53 on a backhand set up by Crosby. It was his first goal since scoring twice against the Golden Knights on Jan. 17, his final game before missing the next 30 because of core muscle surgery.
NOTES:Crosby is the 22nd player to reach 1,400 NHL points and third active, joining Florida Panthers forward Joe Thornton (1,538) and Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (1,403). He is the seventh-fastest to reach the mark, behind Wayne Gretzky (580 games), Mario Lemieux (691), Marcel Dionne (1,022), Phil Esposito (1,070), Jaromir Jagr (1,086) and Steve Yzerman (1,093). … Predators goalie Juuse Saros is day to day with a non-COVID illness after making 21 saves in a 4-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday. Connor Ingram was recalled from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League and backed up Rittich. … Nashville defenseman Mark Borowiecki did not play the third period after taking a stick to the face from Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin at the end of the second. There was no update following the game.