PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – When you look back at this period in Penguins history you will immediately discuss Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Two of the all-time greatest players and future Hall of Famers. Wednesday night, they each reached a major milestone and they did it together.
Malkin became the third player to score 500 goals for the Pens and did so on his 180th career power play goal. It was the 22nd of his career against Buffalo and he got the assist from Sidney Crosby, his 1,601st (earlier in the game he reached the 1,600 mark with an assist). When Crosby got his 500th goal, it was on a Malkin assist.
“I wanted to going into the last few games,” Crosby said of providing the helper on a Malkin goal. “I wanted to find a way. I was hoping I would have an opportunity to find him. It worked out. He set up me so nice for my 500th, I was hoping I could return the favor. His was a little more work than mine. A beautiful goal.”
“This is a great story,” Malkin said. “I assist on his 500 and he assist to me. We deserved to share this night together.”
They’ve had a lot of magical nights together. Three of them after winning Stanley Cups and now something else they did as two elite superstars.
“It’s fun, we’ve shared a lot of milestones together and a lot of memories,” Crosby said. “To be able to add this one, with a win and the way he did it, that was a pretty awesome goal.”
Malkin got the pass from Crosby and cut right to left across the crease. He was tripped up and scored from the seated position.
“I’ll have a great memory of that one,” Crosby added. “I had a front row seat to watch him do it. Just really happy for him. I know how hard it is to get to that number and how long he’s been doing it for. It’s a great achievement and I’m proud of him.”
“I’m proud of myself,” Malkin said with a hint of a smile. “It’s a great number for me. I’m from a small home town from Russia. First guy who’s done this and second Russian. I work hard every day. People probably don’t understand sometimes it’s not easy for me. It’s a great story that Sid passed to me. It’s amazing. I love it. Again, congrats myself.”
“I thought Geno’s goal and Sid being a part of it was appropriate given the years they’ve played together,” said Pens head coach Mike Sullivan. “It was a pretty emotional moment for our whole team. You could see the raw emotion when the guys were going over the boards.”
“It’s hard to put it into words. It’s an incredible privilege to coach these guys and just watch them do what they do every day. They are two of the greatest players of all-time.”
Crosby said when Malkin made it over from Russia he did envision a special relationship and the two have done special things for nearly two decades.
“That is what I was hoping it would work out as and it has,” Crosby said. “I’m super-grateful for it. Whether it’s moments like tonight or other moments that I’ve shared, good and bad, it’s been pretty incredible to be a part of the team and play with him over this amount of time.”
Sullivan said winning a pair of Stanley Cups galvanizes a relationship. What impressed their long-time coach is the passion and love they play with for a pair of players in their mid-to-late 30s. And they do all of that while still playing at a high level.
He said they do so while still competing, constantly. They find each other during practice and pit themselves against one another.
“They go at each other hard because they expect so much of one another, they are the first ones to stick up for each other when the puck drops against anybody,” Sullivan said. “It reminds me of a sibling rivalry.”
It has become family for both. Malkin said they talk a lot in the offseason. Whether it’s about their vacations, hockey, whatever.
“I couldn’t be prouder of them or happier for them,” Sullivan said. “I think what they’ve accomplished in Pittsburgh is remarkable. They keep racking up milestones as they continue to play.”
“We care a lot about the team, we want to win,” Crosby said. “We expect a lot of each other. There is a lot of respect there. We may not have the same personalities, but there is a lot of respect, a lot of trust.”
“To be able to share these things together is special.”
It was another special night for a pair of special players.