Crosby's 500th Goal Couldn't Have Been Scripted Better

The stage was set, and Sidney Crosby delivered.
The Penguins captain scored his 500th career goal in Tuesday's 5-4 overtime win against the Flyers at PPG Paints Arena, becoming just the 46th player in NHL history to reach the milestone, with fellow franchise center Evgeni Malkin earning the only assist on the play.

"You look back at different things over the last 17 years, and that's a memory that I'll always hold pretty close," Crosby said. "With Geno assisting on it, with it being at home against Philadelphia, obviously you know the history of those two teams.
"I think everything that kind of went into it, and then obviously to get the win, that changes the whole dynamic a little bit when you're able to get it at the end. So I think all those things combined just made it for a special night."

As head coach Mike Sullivan remarked with a smile, the only way it could have been better is if the third member of Pittsburgh's core leadership group, Kris Letang, had managed to touch the puck before Malkin made the pass. But the Penguins defenseman left his mark on the milestone game by scoring in overtime, with him and Crosby leaping into each other's arms as the night ended on the perfect note.
"Everybody wanted to get the win for him," said Letang, who couldn't stop grinning when talking about his friend during postgame media availability. "It's such a special moment in a career like he has, and everybody was so happy and excited for him."
The milestone tally came at the end of the first period, and was scored in typical Crosby fashion, going down on one knee at the goal line to bury a shot past Flyers goalie Carter Hart. He was immediately greeted by Malkin, Letang and Jake Guentzel - Bryan Rust had peeled off to retrieve the puck, and head equipment manager Jon Taglianetti took the stick for safekeeping - before getting mobbed by the rest of his teammates, who cleared the bench to congratulate their captain.
"I think it was perfect," Letang said. "It was in the back of some guys' minds. We don't really know during those moments, but knowing Sid and the type of person he is, he wants his teammates around them. And I think he wanted to remember that goal with everybody around him on the ice. So, I think it was organic. Even the coaches were like, everybody get out there."

Sullivan was actually behind the opposing bench when Crosby scored his first NHL goal on Oct. 8, 2005 versus Boston at Mellon Arena. In the years since, particularly the last seven as head coach of the Penguins, Sullivan has witnessed a fair number of milestones with respect to his captain - and said tonight's might be the most special one.
"He's in very elite company, and he's so deserving," Sullivan said. "His legacy, I think, speaks for itself. But to see the reaction, just the raw emotion on the bench - it gives you goosebumps when you're watching it up close, like we were as a coaching staff. It was just really a cool experience.
"To have an opportunity to have the privilege of being his coach and winning some Stanley Cups with him, and then having the opportunity to experience some of his personal milestones along the way, has just been an unbelievable honor for me."
That entire time, the Penguins fans in attendance were on their feet. Their energy had been palpable before the puck even dropped, and you could sense that everyone had been on the edge of their seats every time Crosby was on the ice leading up to the goal.
It crescendoed when he scored, with the crowd cheering their appreciation for the Kid who came to Pittsburgh after being drafted first overall in 2005 and has provided them with countless amazing moments ever since, with this being the latest.
They only got louder as Crosby returned to the bench, and when they showed him on the videoboard, he stood up to acknowledge the Penguins faithful, waving before putting his hand to his heart. Jeff Carter pulled a veteran move and waited until the last possible second to put his stick down for the ensuing faceoff so that Crosby could soak it all in for as long as possible, with the fans loudly chanting his name.
"It was awesome to be able to do it here and feel that energy," Crosby said. "That's something I felt at different points over the years, whether it's playoffs or big games, big moments. So that's a pretty cool experience to add."
When the Penguins returned for the second period, a congratulatory video from Mario Lemieux - the only other player to score 500 goals with Pittsburgh - played during the first TV timeout.
"Hey Sid. Congratulations on your 500th goal," Lemieux said. "I've been able to witness most of them, incredible goals over the years. I'm sure there'll be plenty more in the future. So again, congratulations, enjoy tonight, and all the best to you, my friend."

Lemieux and Crosby aren't just in a league of their own when it comes to this particular milestone. What also separates them is how they operate with such dignity and class, representing everything that's right about the game of hockey and being such incredible ambassadors for the sport as pioneers of their respective generations.
"The thing that jumps out to me with respect to both of those guys is their humility," Sullivan said. "They carry themselves in such a way that they make people around them feel comfortable. Just their humility with respect to the sport, their peers, their teammates, their coaching staff - it's such an admirable quality.."
From there, a montage of Crosby's highlight-reel goals was shown, starting with the first one and ending with the 500th. Everyone in the arena, including players from both benches, stopped to watch, with stick taps coming from the Penguins - and even some Flyers - when it was done.

The camera then cut to Crosby's parents in the stands, with his mom Trina waving to the crowd while his dad Troy - who had been brought to tears after the goal was first scored - had a huge smile on his face.
Crosby said his family had been living out of a suitcase for the last couple of weeks because they wanted to witness the milestone in person so badly, so he was thrilled that it worked out. Especially since they weren't able to come for Sid's previous milestone, 1,000 NHL games last season, due to travel and capacity restrictions.
"They haven't been to as many games the last couple years, so I think it's just important to be able to share that with them," Crosby said. "They've been there for some pretty cool things over the years, pretty cool experiences, and this is another one to add."
It's difficult for him to put into words what 500 goals means to him, but Crosby did his best following the game.
"I think just being able to be part of some great teams over the years, play with some great players - it's a cool number," he said. "You look at guys who have scored 500 goals, I think it's just a privilege to be part of that company. I appreciate the opportunity to have played this long in the league. I think when you look at numbers like that, that's kind of where my head kind of tends to go."