Penguins' Evgeni Malkin scores career goal No. 500 in 3rd period vs. Buffalo

Evgeni Malkin entered his 19th NHL campaign this year knocking on the door of several individual career milestones.

The longtime Pittsburgh Penguins center achieved 800 career assists on Oct. 11 and two nights later, hit 1,300 points, becoming only the 34th and 37th respective player in league history to do so.

Both accomplishments came on the road.

Returning home to PPG Paints Arena Wednesday for a game against the Buffalo Sabres, Malkin took the ice with 499 career goals.

With 16 minutes, 34 seconds remaining in the third period, Malkin made history, notching goal No. 500 on the power play to the wild applause of the crowd and his teammates alike.

With the club maintaining pressure in the offensive zone at the end of a man-advantage, Malkin scored on a rebound off his own shot, beating Buffalo netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukonen.

From behind the cage, Sidney Crosby had fed Malkin the puck, leading to a shot on goal in traffic.

Malkin was forced off his feet but got a clean whack at the loose puck, scoring the goal flat on his back.

The goal gave Pittsburgh a 4-3 lead.

He joins fellow franchise pillars Mario Lemieux and Crosby as the only lifetime Penguins players to reach the 500-goal plateau.

Malkin also becomes NHL player No. 48 to reach the 500.