NHL scores 2017: Sidney Crosby’s milestone evening was a testament to what makes him so great

It felt only right that the big story of the night belonged to Sidney Crosby. In case you didn’t hear, Crosby scored his 1,000th point on Thursday. Pretty big deal, as he’s the 12th-fastest player to hit that mark at 757 games.

If you’ve watched hockey at any point over the last decade or so, you know Crosby shows up in big games. Take the 2010 Olympics, or his clutch performance against the Lightning in the playoffs last year, for example.

Crosby has a way of taking over games, whether it be with a key goal or a brilliant pass, and it’s a skill not many players possess. It was on display Thursday when the Penguins’ captain assisted on Pittsburgh’s second goal of the night for No. 1,000.

But the Penguins got too loose and had to fight back from a one-goal deficit to send the game to overtime. Crosby, naturally, had a hand in both the game-tying and game-winning goals, where he scored the final tally of the evening with 22 seconds left in overtime.

Thursday was just another feather in Crosby’s large, decorative cap. He’s leading the NHL scoring race this year for a reason, and he could very well win it despite missing the first few games of the year with a concussion.

The NHL is better for having Crosby in the game, so here’s to more greatness and milestones from one of the league’s best in history.

Islanders 4, Rangers 2
Senators 3, Devils 0
Penguins 4, Jets 3 (OT)
Sabres 2, Avalanche 0
Blues 4, Canucks 3
Wild 3, Stars 1
Oilers 6, Flyers 3
Coyotes 5, Kings 3

1. Evander Kane is making his case to stay in Buffalo

A little under a week ago, Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray said he “wouldn’t rule [a deal] out” for Kane if the price was right. Since, Kane has four goals in his last four games, including the insurance goal for the Sabres as Buffalo climbs to three points out of the wild card.

Considering the Sabres are in the midst of a playoff hunt, it seems as if Kane might just stay should his positive play continue.

2. Are the Senators the best team in the Atlantic?

With the Canadiens and Bruins dealing with mid-season coaching firings, it’s been the Senators — not the Lightning — that have been the benefactors. In fact, Ottawa has been marginally better than anyone could have expected and they’ve won three of their last four. Thursday, Mike Condon made 21 saves in a 3-0 shutout and the Senators didn’t allow a power play for the Devils all game. Ottawa is playing great hockey when it needs it, and it’s making the Senators serious contenders for the Atlantic’s top spot.

3. The Blues are back

St. Louis is one of the teams enjoying post-head-coach-firing success, and it’s put them right in the thick of the Central Division race.

Well, they’re still eight points back of Chicago — who was idle on Thursday — and 15 behind the Wild, who won again. Even so, the Blues are pacing themselves away from the Predators and into safety of the large gap the Blackhawks and Wild have made.

It took a 4-3 win over the Canucks and two goals in the opening five minutes of the third to get it done, but the Blues are seemingly back on track.

Connor McDavid put up his eighth three-point game — which leads the NHL — to help the Oilers over the floundering Flyers by a score of 6-3.

The Penguins and Jets got extremely chippy with one another, resulting in a few hits that were more than borderline.

First came Dustin Byfuglien’s hit on Justin Schultz that sent the Penguins’ player to the locker room.

Evgeni Malkin laid a hit on Blake Wheeler that caught him in the head.

And Jacob Trouba also got in the mix with this.

It’s likely none of these hits will receive looks from the Department of Player Safety, but the officials clearly didn’t have control of this game.