Sidney Crosby scores 600th career NHL goal, but Penguins fall to Utah 6-1

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Sidney Crosby scored his 600th NHL goal for Pittsburgh on Saturday night but the Penguins lost 6-1 to the Utah Hockey Club.

Dylan Guenther scored twice, while Nick Bjugstad, Jack McBain, Mikhail Sergachev and Alexander Kerfoot also scored for Utah.

Karel Vejmelka stopped 27 shots for Utah.

Crosby is the 21st player in NHL history to score 600 goals. He reached the milestone with 10 seconds left on a five-on-three power play and now has seven goals in his last 12 games. Crosby finished a one-timer from the right side of the net, set up on a pass from Erik Karlsson at 3:11 of the second period.

Karlsson surpassed Borje Salming for 15th place on the NHL’s career assists list among defensemen.

Alex Nedeljkovic made 24 saves for Pittsburgh.

Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are the only active players with at least 600 NHL goals. Crosby is the seventh player in NHL history to score 600 goals with one team and joined Mario Lemieux (690) as the only two Penguins to score 600 goals with the franchise. Pittsburgh is the second team in NHL history with multiple 600-goal scorers, joining Detroit’s Gordie Howe and Steve Yzerman.

Utah: Snapped a three-game losing streak.

Penguins: Crosby’s milestone goal couldn’t prevent Pittsburgh from losing for the 14th time in its last 18 games. Pittsburgh has given up at least four goals in six of its last 10 games.

Bjugstad, who spent parts of two seasons with Pittsburgh, gave Utah the momentum and a 3-1 lead just 7:26 after Crosby’s goal.

Crosby and Wayne Gretzky are the only players in NHL history with at least 600 goals, 1,600 points, three Stanley Cups and two Conn Smythe trophies.

Utah: Visits Toronto on Sunday.

Penguins: Close a five-game homestand Wednesday night against Vancouver.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby, center, is upended in front of Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karel Vejmelka, right rear, and defender Ian Cole (28) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Utah Hockey Club's Mikhail Sergachev (98) returns to the bench after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Utah Hockey Club's Jack McBain (22) returns to the bench after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Drew O'Connor (10) loses control of the puck with Utah Hockey Club's Logan Cooley (92) defending during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Utah Hockey Club's Nick Schmaltz (8) is checked off his skates by Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) after getting off a shot in front of Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (39) with Marcus Pettersson (28) defending during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) gets a shot behind Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) for his 600th career goal in the NHL during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates after getting his 600th career goal in the NHL during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates after getting his 600th career goal in the NHL during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates after getting his 600th career goal in the NHL during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates after getting his 600th career goal in the NHL during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Boston Bruins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon (29) and Utah Hockey Club right wing Dylan Guenther (11) pursue the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates after getting his 600th career goal in the NHL with Evgeni Malkin (71) and Rickard Rakell (67), during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) attempts to swat the puck out of the air in front of Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) with Liam O'Brien (38) defending during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) gets off a shot for a goal past Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) for his 600th career goal in the NHL during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates after getting his 600th career goal in the NHL during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates after getting his 600th career goal in the NHL during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)