In a thrilling 5-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Monday night, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby reached a significant milestone in his illustrious career. With two goals and an assist, Crosby not only recorded his 82nd point of the season but also secured the 19th point-per-game season of his NHL career, tying him with the legendary Wayne Gretzky for the most such seasons in league history.

Crosby's achievement places him among an elite group of NHL players who have recorded at least 15 point-per-game seasons in their careers. Alongside Gretzky, Crosby is joined by the likes of Gordie Howe, Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis, Marcel Dionne, Mark Messier, and Joe Sakic, who have each achieved the feat 15 times.

Remarkably, Crosby has maintained a point-per-game average in all 19 of his NHL seasons, highlighting his consistent dominance on the ice. Even in his "worst" point-per-game season in 2015-16, Crosby still managed to tally an impressive 1.06 points per game with 36 goals and 85 points in 80 games. Notably, this season turned out to be a successful one for Crosby, as the Penguins went on to win the Stanley Cup.

While Crosby now shares the record for point-per-game seasons with Gretzky, there is a notable difference in their overall point totals. Gretzky had a remarkable 17 seasons with over 80 points, while Crosby has achieved "only" 13 such seasons. This discrepancy can be attributed to various factors, including injuries and shortened seasons due to lockouts and the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

The NHL season was shortened to 48 games by a lockout in 2012-13, followed by seasons of 69 games in 2019-20 and 56 games in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Crosby's ability to consistently perform at a high level amidst such disruptions is a testament to his skill and determination.

Crosby's 13 seasons with over 80 points also place him in elite company, tying him with Mark Messier, Marcel Dionne, and Dale Hawerchuk for the second-most in NHL history. It is worth noting that Gretzky achieved his 20th point-per-game season outside the NHL during his rookie year in 1978-79, recording 110 points in 80 games split between Indianapolis and Edmonton in the WHA.

As Crosby's career progresses, maintaining his point-per-game streak will become increasingly challenging. Gretzky had only one NHL season where he did not average a point per game, which was his last season with the New York Rangers, where he had 62 points in 70 games at the age of 38 in 1989-99. Similarly, Mario Lemieux experienced a decline in his point-per-game average towards the end of his career, despite starting with 15 consecutive seasons of averaging at least a point per game.

In response to his achievement, Crosby humbly stated, "I'm not going to think about it too much. We've got a game tomorrow. But I think when you think about all the different years, the different challenges, think about all the guys that I played with and what a big part of it that they are, it's cool. It's not something you think about a whole lot, but when it comes up, you want to get it and it's fun to share it" on the SportsNet Pittsburgh postgame show.

With only eight games remaining in the regular season, Crosby has the opportunity to reach two more significant milestones. He is just three assists away from becoming the 14th player in NHL history to record 1,000 career assists. Additionally, with six more points, he can tie Phil Esposito (1,590 points) and enter the top 10 of the NHL's all-time scoring list, currently sitting at 1,584 points.

While Crosby continues to make his mark in the NHL, another significant number looms in the distance - 1,723, Mario Lemieux's all-time Penguins scoring record. Crosby remains 139 points away from surpassing this historic mark. As his career approaches its twilight years, the focus will undoubtedly shift towards Crosby's pursuit of becoming the greatest scorer in Penguins' history.

As the regular season nears its conclusion, Sidney Crosby's incredible career continues to captivate fans, and his pursuit of greatness shows no signs of slowing down. With each passing game, he solidifies his place among the all-time greats of the sport, etching his name alongside legends like Wayne Gretzky and solidifying his status as one of the most dominant players of his generation.