Malkin and Crosby Hit Historic Milestones in Penguins’ Dominant Win Over Panthers
PITTSBURGH — In a night defined by legendary milestones, the Pittsburgh Penguins dismantled the Florida Panthers 9-4 at PPG Paints Arena. The victory was fueled by a massive second-period surge and historic individual performances from veterans Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby.
The win serves as a critical step for Pittsburgh in their playoff push, shrinking their magic number to six. Conversely, the loss officially eliminates the Florida Panthers from playoff contention.
ALT: Evgeni Malkin celebrates scoring a hat trick against the Florida Panthers at PPG Paints Arena.
Malkin Joins Elite 1,400-Point Club
Evgeni Malkin delivered a commanding performance, recording three goals and one assist. In doing so, the 39-year-old forward reached 1,403 career points, becoming only the 23rd player in NHL history to pass the 1,400-point threshold.
Malkin now joins teammates Sidney Crosby (1,756 points) and Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin (1,682 points) as one of only three active players to reach this mark. This hat trick marked the 14th of his career and his first since March 27, 2022.
It’s an amazing number, for sure. For one team, it’s huge. I love playing here.— Evgeni Malkin
Crosby Scales the All-Time Scoring Ladder
Whereas Malkin captured the hat trick, Sidney Crosby continued his ascent up the record books. With two assists in the contest, Crosby reached 1,756 career points, surpassing Steve Yzerman (1,755) to claim the seventh-most points in NHL history.
Pittsburgh head coach Dan Muse highlighted the rarity of these achievements, noting that these are big ones
that fans never really even get to spot
.
ALT: Video recap of the Pittsburgh Penguins scoring six goals in the second period against Florida.
Second-Period Explosion and Team Effort
The game swung decisively in the second period when Pittsburgh erupted for six goals. The Penguins scored four unanswered goals before Florida could even register a shot on goal in that frame.
Beyond the superstars, several other Penguins contributed to the offensive onslaught:
- Erik Karlsson: Recorded four points (one goal, three assists).
- Rickard Rakell: One goal and one assist.
- Anthony Mantha: One goal and one assist.
- Elmer Soderblom: One goal and one assist.
In goal, Arturs Silovs anchored the defense with 19 saves to secure the win.
Looking Ahead: Playoff Hopes and Contract Status
The Penguins are currently fighting for a postseason berth, winning three of their last four games. The team is now eyeing a magic number of six to clinch their spot.
Off the ice, Malkin is entering the final stages of his current four-year, $24.4 million contract. The veteran forward has expressed a desire to remain with the organization beyond this season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What milestone did Evgeni Malkin reach?
Malkin surpassed 1,400 career NHL points, finishing the game with 1,403 points (532 goals, 871 assists).
Who did Sidney Crosby pass on the all-time scoring list?
Crosby passed Steve Yzerman (1,755 points) to move into seventh place all-time with 1,756 points.
What was the final score of the Penguins vs. Panthers game?
The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Florida Panthers 9-4.