Malkin's 1,000th Game is a Perfect Night

When Evgeni Malkin stopped to talk with Dan Potash following his 1,000th game on Sunday in Chicago, where the Penguins earned a 5-3 win, he truly couldn't stop smiling.
"Everything is perfect tonight," he said.

His teammates, the organization and his family came together to make the road contest that way for Malkin, with his wife Anna and their 6-year-old son Nikita traveling there to surprise the franchise center - who is just the second player in Penguins history to appear in all 1,000 games with the team.
"We all know what Geno means to the city of Pittsburgh and this organization and the legacy that he's built. So, I know it was a special night for him," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "His family was here to celebrate it with him, which was terrific. And the fact that we could come out in the win column, I think it just makes the experience that much more memorable, for sure."

Malkin's two brothers (one Canadian and one French-Canadian), Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang, had been thinking about ways to celebrate the milestone ever since training camp - and the captain shared one part of the plan with the team on Saturday's flight from Winnipeg.
As soon as Malkin sits down for his usual card game with Letang, Jeff Carter and Kasperi Kapanen, he becomes completely immersed … so Crosby knew his scheming would go unnoticed amidst all of Geno's yelling and chirping. He went around the plane and told everyone they would join Malkin in his unique stretching routine during warmups, with the players doing something similar when Crosby reached that milestone during the 2020-21 campaign.
"Everyone's kind of got their own deal, their own quirks. With my 1,000th game, we did the tying the skates, and Geno's got those original moves he does out there," Crosby said with a grin. "So, I think we just tried to have some fun with that. We talked about a lot of different stuff, that one seemed to make sense. It's just really cool to be a part of it."

Malkin suspected they would do something along those lines, but he was surprised - and delighted - by the timing. He thought they might wait until Wednesday, when the Penguins will officially commemorate the milestone while hosting the Calgary Flames at PPG Paints Arena.
"I know when Sid have his 1,000th game, we do the same. But I think, like, not tonight," Malkin said. "Maybe when we are back at home, when we play at home, and they repeat my routine. But it's more fun. It's like, I'm glad. It's a great memory for me."
But the absolute bestmemory came when the team went back into the locker room following warmups.
"For tonight's starting lineup, we have a special guest that's going to announce for us," said Sullivan, before stepping aside to let Nikita enter the room.
Malkin's Mini-Me announced each name perfectly, with the guys clapping, whooping and cheering him on each time. Nikita ended with, "Number 71, Evgeni Malkin," and then ran over to hug his dad ... holding onto him tightly before finally letting go and going to join his mother, with both father and son teary-eyed.
As Nikita walked away, Malkin was overcome. He had no idea that Anna and Nikita would be there to see this game in person.
"It's a big surprise, for sure. Very emotional for me," Malkin said. "It's crazy, because I'm not ready, and I see my son. He's shy, and he's almost crying, too. It's the best thing in my life, for sure. I hope maybe he plays in the NHL, too, and I do the same for him, you know (laughs)? Grateful for my family. I appreciate that they come to Chicago and give me a big surprise. I love them both."

Typically, Crosby takes the opening faceoff - but tonight was Malkin's night. He lined up for the draw, and with that, Malkin joined his fellow franchise center as just the second player in Penguins history to appear in all 1,000 games with the organization. In a classy gesture by the Blackhawks, they congratulated Malkin on the videoboard during the first TV timeout, with a nice reception from the United Center crowd.
Special players rise to the occasion on special nights like these, and Malkin scored his 452nd career goal early in the second period. With the point, he has recorded at least one point in 71% of his career games played… which couldn't be more fitting.
The play started in the defensive zone, with P.O Joseph hitting Ryan Poehling with a breakout pass. As he carried up the ice and gained the zone, Malkin drifted, looking for a soft spot on the ice. He found it, and Poehling found him.
After his shot went through Blackhawks goalie Arvid Soderblom's pads and into the back of the net, you could hear Malkin scream, "YES!" as he jumped into the glass and then got mobbed by his teammates.
Rickard Rakell scored just one minute and 40 seconds later to build Pittsburgh's lead to 3-0. But the Blackhawks battled back, entering the second intermission down by just one goal, and getting the equalizer with 4:11 left in the third.
But there was no way that Sid was going to let the Blackhawks ruin Geno's night. He essentially willed the Penguins to victory the rest of the way, scoring his first-ever goal at United Center less than a minute later, and setting up Jeff Carter's empty-netter to give Pittsburgh a 5-3 win.
"It was a great leadup to the game with the warmup and Nikita and Anna being here. I'm sure it was a lot of thoughts going through his mind today, but to cap it off with the win makes it extra special," Crosby said. "That was pretty emotional, you know? It goes fast, and I'm just happy that we got the win."

It was the third straight for the Penguins, and fifth in their past seven games. They're hoping to keep it going in a few days after returning to Pittsburgh, where the celebrations for Malkin will continue on.
"I appreciate every player who played with me. It's like, unbelievable. It's an emotional night for me, for sure. I say thank you to the team, they give me two points, Sid scored in last like three minutes and score empty net," Malkin said with a laugh. "Amazing night, it's a great memory for me, for sure. Keep going. Don't stop."