Evgeni Malkin is showing no signs of slowing down at age 38. On Wednesday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins veteran reached an incredible career milestone by scoring his 500th NHL goal during a thrilling matchup against the Buffalo Sabres. The goal came early in the third period, giving the Penguins a 4-3 lead. In a show of unity and admiration, the entire Penguins bench cleared to celebrate with Malkin on the ice after his historic goal.
With this achievement, Malkin becomes only the 48th player in NHL history to reach the 500-goal mark. He also joins an elite group within the Penguins organization, becoming just the third player in team history to hit 500 goals, following current teammate Sidney Crosby and the legendary Mario Lemieux.
Malkin’s milestone came in the same game that saw another significant moment for the Penguins. Sidney Crosby, the team’s captain, reached 1,600 career points with an assist on Bryan Rust’s goal earlier in the game. Malkin also had an assist on that play, further contributing to his team’s success.
Pittsburgh is now one of just two NHL teams to have three players score 500 or more goals, the other being the Montreal Canadiens, who had Guy Lafleur, Jean Beliveau, and Maurice Richard accomplish the feat.
Malkin’s 500th goal came in his 1,150th career game, all played with the Penguins. He now boasts an impressive 1,305 career points, cementing his place as one of the greatest players in the league.
The Russian star is off to a hot start this season as well, with two goals and seven assists in just five games. As Malkin continues to shine on the ice, it’s clear that he remains a dominant force for Pittsburgh and a future Hall of Famer.
