Penguins’ Crosby scores 50th goal, then takes NHL lead with 51st

Penguins’ Crosby scores 50th and 51st goals

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Sidney Crosby scored his 50th goal again — and this time it will stick.

The Pittsburgh Penguins captain hit the magic milestone for the first time in his five-year NHL career when he scored a power-play goal Sunday against the New York Islanders with 2:57 left in the first period to give his team a 3-0 lead.

The 22-year-old superstar, who netted the Olympic gold-medal winning goal for Canada at the Vancouver Games, thought he had his 50th of the season Thursday night at home against the Islanders. He was stripped of that one long after the game when a video replay showed it was scored by Bill Guerin.

Crosby added his NHL-leading 51st goal 55 seconds into the second period on Sunday to push the Penguins in front 4-1.