Penguins’ Dynamic Duo Makes History
In an electrifying display of skill and camaraderie, Pittsburgh Penguins icons Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby etched their names into the NHL record books Wednesday night against the Buffalo Sabres.
Malkin Reaches 500-Goal Milestone
Malkin became the 48th player in NHL history to score 500 career goals, a feat he had been eagerly anticipating since last year. “I really wanted to score [the 500th goal] last year,” Malkin admitted. “All summer, I was probably thinking too much about it. It was a long way to 500 and I’m glad to finally do it.”
Crosby Returns the Favor
In a stunning display of teamwork, Crosby provided the assist on Malkin’s historic goal, just as Malkin had done for Crosby when he reached the same milestone in 2022. Crosby’s between-the-legs pass from behind the net found Malkin sitting on the ice, who flipped the puck past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to seal the deal.
A Night to Remember
The Penguins’ bench emptied to congratulate Malkin, and the crowd gave him a standing ovation. “It was a pretty awesome goal,” Crosby said. “I had a front-row seat watching him do that. I’ll have a great memory of that one.” The duo’s combined seven-point night against Buffalo cemented their status as one of the most formidable pairs in NHL history.
Legacy of Greatness
With 500 goals in 1,150 games, Malkin now has the third-most goals in Penguins’ history. He joins an elite group of active players with 500 goals, including Crosby, Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, and Nashville’s Steven Stamkos. Pittsburgh becomes the second team in NHL history, behind Montreal, with three 500-goal scorers.
Crosby’s Latest Achievement
Crosby recorded his 1,600th regular-season point with the secondary assist on Bryan Rust’s power-play goal, becoming the first player to reach the milestone since Jaromir Jagr in 2011. With 1,277 games played, Crosby achieved this feat in the fifth-fewest games in NHL history.
A Bond Forged in Victory
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan attributed the duo’s success to their strong bond, forged through three Stanley Cup championships. “When you look at the championships the Penguins have won while they’ve been here, their fingerprints are all over it,” Sullivan said. “When you win Stanley Cups, it has a way of galvanizing relationships.”
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