Predators right wing Luke Evangelista (left) takes the puck from Penguins right wing Rickard Rakell during the first period Thursday.
Sidney Crosby's inability to score a goal in 10 consecutive games before Thursday wasn't necessarily a concern. More of a curiosity.
At least to the person with hundreds of goals on his dazzling NHL resume.
"You always want to score," Crosby said Wednesday in Cranberry. "And, obviously, when there's some good looks, like I've had lately, you're feeling like it's only a matter of time."
That time came on Thursday as Crosby became the 21st player in NHL history to score 601 career goals, more than three weeks after he became the 21st player in NHL history to score 600 career goals Nov. 27.
Crosby's offense -- including three assists -- helped the Pittsburgh Penguins claim a come-from-behind 5-4 overtime victory against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. The result boosted their record to 8-2-1 over the past 11 games and pushed them closer to a playoff-worthy position in the standings.
Forward Bryan Rust scored the winning goal at 1:17 of the overtime period.
After Predators forward Jonathan Marchessault opened the scoring with his ninth goal of the season 3:51 into regulation, the Penguins tied the contest 1-1 at 16:21 of the first period with Rust's first goal of the contest and 13th of 2024-25.
The hosts regained a lead only 96 seconds later when forward Luke Evangalista scored his fourth goal during a power-play opportunity. That was followed by Predators forward Steven Stamkos' ninth goal 3:38 into the second period.
Crosby's ninth goal of the season came during a power-play sequence at 7:54 of the second frame.
Corralling a rimmed puck on the Predators' right half-wall, Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin distributed it to the top of the opposite circle, where Rust one-touched it to the center point. That allowed Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson to tee up and chop a one-timer just to the left of the crease where Crosby deftly re-directed the puck with the forehand of his stick blade by the blocker of scrambling goaltender Juuse Saros on the near side.
Penguins forward Rickard Rakell's team-leading 15th goal tied the score again at 9:08 of the second.
Rust harassed Predators defenseman Jeremy Lauzon into a turnover over Nashville's right circle, allowing Crosby to claim possession at the right point. Skating to the top of the left circle, Crosby fed a small area pass within the circle for Rakell, who forced another pass intended for the top of the crease intended for Rust. However, Lauzon's nightmare of a shift continued as he slid down to block the puck only to inadvertently deflect a blooper into the cage over Saros' glove on the far side.
The hosts reclaimed a lead 7:44 into the third period via defenseman Brady Skjei's third goal off a two-on-one rush with Predators forward Ryan O'Reilly against Penguins rookie defenseman Owen Pickering.
Karlsson and the Penguins persisted as his third goal tied the contest again at 11:37 of the third period.
Off a cross-ice pass by defensive partner Matt Grzelcyk, Karlsson gripped and ripped a wrister from above Nashville's right circle through a phalanx of bodies in front of the cage and past Saros' right leg on the far side.
Jarry unofficially stopped 22 of 26 shots as his record improved to 7-4-2.
Notes: Penguins defenseman P.O Joseph was a healthy scratch one day after the Penguins re-acquired him in a trade with the St. Louis Blues. Per audio provided by the Penguins' media relations staff, coach Mike Sullivan told reporters in Nashville that Joseph was unable to travel to the city in time to join the team before the game. ... Penguins forwards Kevin Hayes and Jesse Puljujarvi were also healthy scratches.