When it came to important individual milestones last season in 2022-23, it was a Malkin/Letang type of year. Both of the “other” franchise cornerstones celebrated their respective 1,000th career game last season, and in memorable fashion.
Evgeni Malkin’s big night game came on November 20th in Chicago, where his family flew in as a surprise and his son Nikita read the starting lineup. Malkin scored a goal, the Penguins won 5-3 and all was well in Pens world for that night.
Due to a Masterton level of adversity, Kris Letang would have to wait into April for his big night, a 4-2 win over the Flyers that temporarily kept hope alive for a playoff spot in Pittsburgh.