- Crosby tied a 32-year-old IIHF record with four assists in the third period of Canada’s 5-1 win over Denmark
- Mats Sundin set the previous mark for Sweden against the United States on May 8, 1994
- Read below for full details on the Penguins captain’s record-tying performance at the Worlds in Fribourg
Sidney Crosby just made IIHF history.
The Penguins captain set up four straight Canada goals in the third period of Monday’s 5-1 win over Denmark at the World Championship in Fribourg, tying a record that has stood for 32 years.
Hockey Canada handed him Player of the Game:
The only other player with four assists in a single period at the Worlds is Mats Sundin, who pulled it off for Sweden against the United States in 1994.
Through 40 minutes Canada had outshot Denmark 27-9 and gotten nothing for it. Then the third period happened.
Porter Martone broke the tie 28 seconds in, finishing a Celebrini-to-Crosby feed across the slot. Gabriel Vilardi doubled the lead a little over three minutes later.
Watch the third-period burst:
Denton Mateychuk buried a rebound 31 seconds after Vilardi’s marker for a 3-0 lead, with Crosby drawing his second helper of the night.
Ryan O’Reilly and Parker Wotherspoon each found themselves wide open in front for the fourth and fifth goals. Crosby was the trigger man on both, including a one-handed dish that drew gasps from the bench:
Macklin Celebrini, the 19-year-old captain, chipped in two assists of his own. Jet Greaves stopped 15 shots in net. Nick Olesen scored the lone goal for Denmark.
That win also handed Canada some payback for last year’s quarterfinal, when the Danes stunned them 2-1 and ended a chase for a 29th title. Three games in, Canada is 3-0 after wins over Sweden (5-3) and Italy (6-0) to open the tournament.
Crosby, 38, joined the roster late after the Penguins missed the playoffs, replacing an injured Mathew Barzal. Three games into the trip, he is running the tournament.
Canada plays Norway on Thursday.
