Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, two of the Pittsburgh Penguins' most iconic players, added to their storied careers on Wednesday night in a thrilling 6-5 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres. The longtime teammates both achieved significant milestones during the game, further cementing their legendary status in the NHL.Malkin became the 48th player in NHL …
Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, two of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ most iconic players, added to their storied careers on Wednesday night in a thrilling 6-5 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres. The longtime teammates both achieved significant milestones during the game, further cementing their legendary status in the NHL.
Malkin became the 48th player in NHL history to score 500 career goals, while Crosby reached 1,600 regular-season points, making him only the 10th player in NHL history to do so. Crosby’s overtime goal sealed the victory for Pittsburgh, and the night was filled with celebrations for both stars.
“I really wanted to score the 500th goal last year,” Malkin said. “All summer, I was thinking about it. It was a long road to 500, and I’m glad to finally do it.”
In a moment of poetic symmetry, Crosby assisted on Malkin’s milestone goal, much like Malkin had done for Crosby when he scored his 500th career goal in 2022. With 3:26 remaining in the third period, Crosby made a spectacular between-the-legs pass from behind the net to Malkin, who, sitting on the ice, managed to flip the puck past Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The Penguins’ bench erupted, and the crowd gave Malkin a standing ovation.
“It was a pretty awesome goal,” Crosby said. “I had a front-row seat watching him do that. It’s a memory I’ll always cherish.”
Malkin, now the third-highest goal scorer in Penguins history, reached the 500-goal mark in 1,150 games, making him the 20th player in NHL history to score 500 goals with one team. Since being drafted second overall by the Penguins in 2004, Malkin has teamed with Crosby to lead Pittsburgh to 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,” said Penguins coach Mike Sullivan. “Winning Stanley Cups strengthens relationships, and that bond is evident with these two.”
Malkin joins an elite group of active NHL players with 500 career goals, including Crosby (592), Alex Ovechkin (853), and Steven Stamkos (555). Pittsburgh also becomes the second team in NHL history, after Montreal, to have three players reach the 500-goal milestone.
The duo’s performance against Buffalo was nothing short of spectacular. Crosby finished the game with a goal and two assists, while Malkin contributed a goal and three assists, giving him 11 points in five games to start the season.
“I think (Malkin) has had a really strong start to the season,” Sullivan said. “When he’s at his best, the puck seems to follow him around, and that’s what’s happening right now.”
Crosby’s 1,600th regular-season point came on a secondary assist during a Bryan Rust power-play goal in the first period. Crosby reached this milestone in 1,277 games, the fifth-fewest in NHL history to hit 1,600 points. The 37-year-old Crosby is also on the verge of joining another elite group, as he’s just seven goals away from 600 and 39 points shy of tying Joe Sakic for ninth place in NHL history.
Crosby, who was drafted first overall by the Penguins in 2005, continues to chase the records set by Penguins legend Mario Lemieux, who holds the franchise record with 1,723 points.
For one more night, Malkin and Crosby took center stage, sharing the ice and yet another historic moment together.
“We probably deserved to share this night together,” Malkin said. “It’s a great story.”
