NHL News Roundup: Sidney Crosby sets new record, Pavel Dorofeyev scores peculiar debut goal, and more 

In recent NHL news, Sidney Crosby achieved a new record for the Pittsburgh Penguins while Pavel Dorofeyev scored a unique goal during his NHL debut.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are currently in poor form, losing seven of their last nine games. Conversely, the New Jersey Devils are red hot and now have third-best record in the league.

On that note, let's discuss what has happened in the NHL over the last few days.

Sidney Crosby closes in on Pittsburgh Penguins assist record

Sidney Crosby has proven himself to be one of the most prolific playmakers in Pittsburgh Penguins history. In a game against the New York Rangers on March 12, Crosby secured his 10th career 50-assist season. He is now just one season behind the legendary Mario Lemieux for the most 50+ assist seasons in Penguins history.

This achievement is yet another milestone in Crosby's illustrious career. He has already won three Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals, and numerous individual awards. Crosby's ability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates with his exceptional passing skills has been a hallmark of his game. This milestone is a testament to his consistency and longevity as a player.

Pavel Dorofeyev scores peculiar debut goal

Pavel Dorofeyev, a rookie forward for the Vegas Golden Knights, made a memorable debut on Sunday night when he scored his first NHL goal in unusual fashion.

In the second period against the St. Louis Blues, Dorofeyev redirected a shot from the point with his helmet and sent the puck past goalie Jordan Binnington. The goal was initially reviewed for a high stick, but the call on the ice stood. Dorofeyev's goal was officially allowed. Despite the strange circumstances, the 20-year-old Russian was undoubtedly thrilled to score his first NHL goal.

Tampa Bay Lightning continue poor form losing seven of their last nine.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are experiencing a dip in form recently, having lost seven of their last nine games in the NHL. Their latest defeat came against the Winnipeg Jets on March 12, where they lost 3-2. This comes on the back of a disappointing 5-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on March 9 and a 3-0 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on March 7.

The Lightning have struggled to find their form in the past few games. Their defense is faltering and their goaltending has not been up to par. In their last nine games, they have allowed 32 goals while only scoring 20. Their goaltenders have posting a combined .861 save percentage during that span.

The Lightning will need to find their form quickly if they are to challenge for the top spot in the league and win their third Stanley Cup in four years.

New Jersey Devils climb to second place

The New Jersey Devils have made a strong push in the NHL Metropolitan division. They've tied the Carolina Hurricanes for first in the division with 94 points. The Devils have won three consecutive games and collected points in nine of their last ten games.

This impressive run has been aided by their solid defense, having allowed only 177 goals on the season. Their 42 regulation and overtime wins, the most in the division, have given them an edge in the race for the top seed.