On This Day [March 31]: Whitney Notches 1,000th NHL Point

Ray Whitney became the 79th player in NHL history to amass 1,000 career points on March 31, 2012.
To this day, only 90 have been able to reach that milestone.
Whitney delivered a crisp cross-ice feed to set-up Radim Vrbata as the Coyotes operated on a 5-on-3 power play late in the second period of a 4-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks.

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Foreshadowing the landmark point in real time was Coyotes play-by-play broadcaster Matt McConnell, who teed up the sequence perfectly, decorating his words with the veteran forward's distinguished nickname, a moniker Whitney earned for his wondrous passing and playmaking abilities.
And in showcase:
"Will this be it for 'The Wizard'?"
Vrbata immediately collected the puck once he cashed in. After celebrating, Whitney handed over his stick to equipment staff for safe-keeping in exchange for a new one.
When play resumed, it took Whitney a mere 40 seconds
to eclipse his achievement
.
Flying down the left wing on the ensuing 5-on-4 power play, he buried a rink-wide feed from Vrbata to net point number 1,001 of his career, a one-timer off the far post and in.

"It's special, only 79 people in the history of this game have done it," Whitney said after the game. "I've been bought-out twice, I've been on waivers a couple times, there's been a couple times in my career that it didn't look like it was going to go on further," he said, reflecting on his tumultuous path to 1,000.
Whitney tied a career-high mark in assists that season (53) en route to a 77-point campaign, matching the second highest single season total of his illustrious career.
He finished his 22-year career with 1,064 points (385G, 679A), which ranks 69th all-time in the NHL, one point behind another former Coyote star, Keith Tkachuk, who totaled 1,065.
In just two seasons with the Coyotes (2010-12), Whitney registered 134 points (41G, 93A) and was a prominent fixture on the 2011-12 squad that extended all the way to the Western Conference Final of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Lead Photo Credit: Norm Hall - NHLI via Getty Images // Second Photo Credit: Christian Petersen - Getty Images // Footer Photo Credit: Christian Petersen - Getty Images