Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, two iconic players for the Pittsburgh Penguins, have shared many milestones and memories over the past two decades. On Wednesday night, both achieved significant accomplishments during a 6-5 victory against the Buffalo Sabres. Malkin reached 500 career goals, becoming the 48th player in NHL history to do so. Meanwhile, Crosby marked his place in history by recording 1,600 regular-season points, joining an elite group of just 10 players who have achieved this feat.
Malkin’s Milestone Goal and Emotional Journey
Malkin, who had been thinking about reaching the 500-goal mark for over a year, expressed relief and happiness after finally achieving it. “I really wanted to score [the 500th goal] last year,” he said, reflecting on his long journey to reach this milestone. The Penguins’ captain, Crosby, had assisted Malkin during his own 500th goal in 2022 and returned the favor on Wednesday. Crosby set up Malkin’s goal with a creative pass behind the net, and Malkin, while sitting on the ice, managed to score past the Buffalo goalie.
Crosby, who had a front-row seat to Malkin’s goal, expressed admiration for his teammate’s achievement. “It was a pretty awesome goal,” Crosby remarked, remembering the moment fondly. The two players, who have been teammates for almost two decades, have shared many such moments. Their connection has been a cornerstone of the Penguins’ success, leading to three Stanley Cup victories. Malkin’s 500th goal solidified his place as one of the top goal-scorers in Penguins’ history, ranking third, while also becoming the 20th player to score 500 goals for a single team.
Malkin’s Historic Achievement and Penguins’ Legacy
Malkin’s 500th goal places him in exclusive company. He is only the second Russian-born player in NHL history, after Alex Ovechkin, to achieve this milestone. He joins Crosby, Ovechkin, and Steven Stamkos as active players with 500 goals. This achievement makes the Penguins only the second NHL team, after Montreal, to have three 500-goal scorers in their history. Both Crosby and Malkin’s consistent contributions continue to shape the team’s success, with the Penguins continuing to excel with these superstars leading the charge.
Crosby reached another major milestone during the game, recording his 1,600th career point. The achievement was marked by a secondary assist on Bryan Rust’s power-play goal. Crosby is now one of just 10 players in NHL history to reach this mark, a testament to his longevity and elite performance. At 37, Crosby continues to be a key player for the Penguins, as he is closing in on 600 career goals and climbing up the all-time points list. Crosby’s remarkable consistency shows no signs of slowing down as he moves closer to passing Penguins legend Mario Lemieux for eighth place in NHL history.
