Milestone Moments for Malkin and Crosby with Pittsburgh Penguins

Milestone Night against Buffalo Sabres

On a memorable Wednesday night, Pittsburgh Penguins icons Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby made history against the Buffalo Sabres. Malkin joined the ranks of the elite 48 players in NHL history to have scored 500 career goals, while Crosby, with his overtime goal, became the 10th player in NHL history to amass 1,600 regular-season points. Their combined efforts led to a thrilling 6-5 victory over Buffalo.

Malkin Reflects on His 500th Goal

“I was hoping to score (the 500th goal) last season,” confessed Malkin. He admitted that the milestone was on his mind throughout the summer. “Getting to 500 was a journey, and I’m relieved to have finally reached it.”

Assist Exchange between Crosby and Malkin

When Crosby hit his 500th NHL goal in 2022, Malkin was there with the assist. Crosby returned the favor in the third period of Wednesday’s game. He delivered a pass from behind the net to Malkin, who, while seated on the ice, managed to send the puck past goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The entire team rushed to congratulate Malkin, and the crowd responded with a standing ovation. Crosby described it as an “incredible goal,” and noted that he would cherish the memory.

Malkin’s Place in Penguins’ History

Malkin, who has scored 500 goals in 1,150 games, ranks third in the Penguins’ all-time scoring list. He is the 20th player in NHL history to score 500 goals for a single team. Selected second overall in the 2004 draft, 38-year-old Malkin has partnered with Crosby to deliver three Stanley Cup championships to Pittsburgh. Penguins’ coach Mike Sullivan spoke highly of the pair, stating that their contributions to the team’s championships are irreplaceable.

Malkin Joins Elite Group of Goal Scorers

Malkin joins Crosby (592), Washington’s Alex Ovechkin (853), and Nashville’s Steven Stamkos (555) as the only active players with 500 goals. He becomes the second Russian-born player in NHL history to achieve this feat, joining Ovechkin. The Penguins also became the second team in NHL history, after Montreal, to have three players with 500 goals.

Crosby’s Milestone Points

Crosby achieved his 1,600th regular-season point by assisting on Bryan Rust’s power-play goal in the first period. Crosby, now in his 20th NHL season, is just seven goals away from hitting 600. Crosby, who was selected first overall by Pittsburgh in the 2005 Draft, is also approaching other milestones in the NHL history. He is just 39 points away from tying Hall of Famer Joe Sakic for ninth place and 121 points behind another Hall of Famer and Penguins’ legend, Mario Lemieux, for eighth place.

A Memorable Night for Crosby and Malkin

For one more night, the spotlight shone brightly on Malkin and Crosby. “It feels right that we shared this night together,” said Malkin. “It’s a truly wonderful story.” Indeed, their combined efforts and achievements have written an unforgettable chapter in the annals of Pittsburgh Penguins’ history.