PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – As if they knew something was going to happen, the Pens started the Wednesday night game with Evgeni Malkin’s line instead of Sidney Crosby’s. Malkin was not to be denied scoring his 500th career goal.
It was on the power play where he scored 180 of his career goals. This was a rarity though, as he cut in front of the crease from right to left, he was knocked down and Malkin scored while sitting and sliding on the ice to give the Pens a 4-3 lead early in the third period. The assist from Sidney Crosby was point number 1,601 of his career. Malkin assisted on Crosby’s 500th goal.
Malkin becomes the third player in Pens history to score 500 goals while with the Pens (Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby). The 38-year-old also moves into a tie for 47th place for most goals in NHL history with Lanny McDonald. He is two shy of tying former Penguin Joe Mullen.
The future Hall of Fame center scored his first goal in his first game October 18, 2006 against the Devils at home. He would scored in first six NHL games finishing with 33 goals and 52 assists in 78 games his rookie season winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. Malkin is 36th in the NHL in points with 1,304.