Malkin becomes the 48th player in NHL history to reach 500 goals and the 20th to do so with one team.
It was a night of celebration in Pittsburgh as the Penguins overcame a 0-2 deficit to defeat the Buffalo Sabres 6-5 in overtime on Wednesday. The victory was extra special for veterans Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, who set new career milestones.
Malkin stole the show in the third period, scoring his 500th career NHL goal at the 3:26 mark. He hit the milestone on a backhanded rebound off his own shot to swat the puck past Buffalo goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The PPG Paints Arena erupted in a standing ovation as the entire Penguins squad mobbed him behind the net.
However, Malkin’s historic goal wasn’t the only milestone of the night. Captain Sidney Crosby also etched his name in NHL history by reaching the 1,600-point mark with an assist on Bryan Rust’s power-play goal in the first period.
Crosby achieved the feat in his 1,277th game, becoming only the 10th player in NHL history to reach this milestone.
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The game itself was a rollercoaster affair. Despite falling behind 0-2 early, the Penguins clawed their way back with goals from Rust, Drew O’Connor, and Jesse Puljujarvi. However, the Sabres refused to go down without a fight, and goals from Peterka and McLeod put them back in the lead entering the third period.
With the score tied at 5-5, the game went to overtime. It was there that Crosby delivered the game-winner on a power-play pass to Malkin, who secured two crucial points for the Penguins.
Malkin opened up on the historic milestone after the game. “It’s not easy,” he said. “It’s a long way to score 500, but I’m glad to do it tonight. Now, I’m like, more relaxed, more calm. Not think too much. Sleep better, and just play hockey.”
Penguins will next host Carolina Hurricanes on October 18.
Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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