Malkin nets 500th goal in Penguins' win over Sabres

Evgeni Malkin joined Sidney Crosby in the milestone-achieving department, notching his 500th career goal against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night.

The entire Penguins team came out to celebrate with Malkin after he buried his own rebound in the third period.

Malkin is the 48th NHL player to reach the 500-goal mark and the 20th to do so with one team. He achieved it in his 1,150th game.

"For the first time probably, I want to say I'm proud of myself," Malkin said, according to team reporter Michelle Crechiolo. "It's a great number for me. I'm from a small hometown in Russia, Magnitogorsk. First guy who's done this and second Russian. I work hard every day, and people probably don't understand that sometimes it's not easy for me. But it's a great story, Sid (passed it) to me. ... It's amazing, I love it."

Malkin admitted he'd been in his own head about hitting the milestone and had pressure from friends and family to do it at home, per Crechiolo.

The 38-year-old has spent all 18-plus seasons with the Penguins, who drafted him second overall in 2004.

Malkin added three assists in the Penguins' 6-5 win over the Sabres. He's registered two tallies and nine helpers in five games this season.

Crosby became the 10th player in league history to post 1,600 points earlier in the contest.

The Penguins are now the second team in NHL history with three 500-goal-scorers (Malkin, Crosby with 593, and Mario Lemieux with 690), joining the Montreal Canadiens' legendary trio of Jean Beliveau (507), Guy Lafleur (560), and Maurice Richard (544).

Malkin and Crosby join Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri of the Edmonton Oilers in burying 500 goals each as teammates.