Monday, December 22, 2025, will go down in hockey history. In a poetic twist of fate, Sidney Crosby has officially surpassed Mario Lemieux as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ all-time leading scorer. The captain collected a goal and an assist in yesterday’s thrilling shootout win over Montreal—Lemieux’s hometown team—bringing his career total to 1,724 points. It was a torch-passing moment that had the entire hockey world buzzing this morning.
But the headlines didn’t stop in Pittsburgh. The Colorado Avalanche are looking like an unstoppable force, with Nathan MacKinnon becoming the league’s first 30-goal scorer of the season. He netted two in a 5-1 drubbing of the Wild, ending Minnesota’s seven-game win streak. Meanwhile, Connor McDavid continues to feast, reclaiming the league scoring lead with a three-point night as the Oilers held off the Golden Knights.
On the trade front, the rumor mill is spinning early. With the March deadline approaching, reports suggest the Avalanche are aggressively hunting for a defenseman, with names like Calgary’s Rasmus Andersson floating as potential targets. The New York Islanders are also shopping for a top-six winger and blue-line help to salvage their playoff hopes.
For Leafs fans, it’s a “Blue Christmas” after a tough 5-1 loss to Dallas. Jason Robertson finally scored against the only team he hadn’t yet beaten, leaving Toronto searching for answers as they slide down the standings.
Here is a look at all the action from yesterday.
NHL Scores & Highlights from December 21, 2025
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