* Three of hockey's greatest goal scorers, the New York Islanders' Mike Bossy (Jan. 2, 1986), Edmonton's Wayne Gretzky (Nov. 22, 1986) and Los Angeles' Jari Kurri (Oct. 17, 1992) scored their 500th goals into empty nets.
“I thought the shot was going wide, but the puck landed on its edge and kicked left,” Gretzky said of his 500th. “The fact that it was an empty-net goal doesn't concern me. I've got my share of goals. I'm not going to worry how it goes in.”
* Seven players have entered the 500-goal club by completing a hat trick.
Jean Beliveau was the first to net the hat trick and 500th goal on the same night, Feb. 11, 1971, and has been followed by Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mark Messier, Brett Hull, Jaromir Jagr, and Mats Sundin.
*Here's some irony for you. Patrick Roy, the NHL’s all-time victories leader, has the distinction of allowing a league-high three 500th goals -- to Detroit's Steve Yzerman (Jan. 17, 1996), Pittsburgh's Joe Mullen (Mar. 14, 1997) and Detroit’s Brendan Shanahan (Mar. 23, 2002).
“Being able to (score number 500) against a good team on a goaltender of the stature of Patrick Roy… it was all a very special moment,” Yzerman recalled.
* A total of 13 players have scored their 500th goal on the power play, while only two -- Gordie Howe and Mats Sundin -- have scored their 500th goal shorthanded.
* Mats Sundin scored in overtime Oct. 14, 2006 to become the first player to record his 500th goal as an overtime winner.
* In all, 26 of the 39 players have achieved the milestone in front of a home crowd, while 14 have scored all 500 goals with the same franchise. The list of 14 players includes: Maurice Richard, Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Jean Beliveau, Stan Mikita, Guy Lafleur, Mike Bossy, Gilbert Perreault, Wayne Gretzky, Bryan Trottier, Mario Lemieux, Steve Yzerman, Joe Sakic, and Mike Modano.
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